Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Saco, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 77.5% of gross income.

Saco rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Saco median rent
$2,226/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Maine)
$34,475/yr
Rent as % of income
77.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,873, and the 30% rule supports up to $862/mo in rent. Saco's median rent of $2,226 exceeds that threshold by $1,364/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 134.3 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Saco, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Yarmouth, ME
$2,224/mo (77.4% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,221/mo (77.3% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,211/mo (77% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saco

View full rent data for Saco, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Saco, ME?

Median rent in Saco is $2,226 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Maine earns about $34,475 a year, which makes that rent 77.5% 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 Saco?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Maine (~$34,475/yr) supports up to $862 a month in rent. Saco's current median rent is $2,226/mo, which is $1,364/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Maine works roughly 134.3 hours a month to cover Saco's median rent of $2,226.

Where is rent cheaper than Saco for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Yarmouth ($2,224/mo), Portland ($2,221/mo), Portland ($2,211/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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