Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Middletown, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.6% of gross income.

Middletown rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Middletown median rent
$1,922/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Maryland)
$40,036/yr
Rent as % of income
57.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,336, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,001/mo in rent. Middletown's median rent of $1,922 exceeds that threshold by $921/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 99.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maryland cities have lower median rent than Middletown, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Rockville, MD
$1,921/mo (57.6% of income)
Pasadena, MD
$1,920/mo (57.5% of income)
Bel Air, MD
$1,920/mo (57.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Middletown

View full rent data for Middletown, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Middletown, MD?

Median rent in Middletown is $1,922 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Maryland earns about $40,036 a year, which makes that rent 57.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Middletown?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Maryland (~$40,036/yr) supports up to $1,001 a month in rent. Middletown's current median rent is $1,922/mo, which is $921/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Middletown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Maryland works roughly 99.9 hours a month to cover Middletown's median rent of $1,922.

Where is rent cheaper than Middletown for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Rockville ($1,921/mo), Pasadena ($1,920/mo), Bel Air ($1,920/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Middletown, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.