Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Ferguson, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.7% of gross income.

Ferguson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Ferguson median rent
$1,385/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Missouri)
$34,104/yr
Rent as % of income
48.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,842, and the 30% rule supports up to $853/mo in rent. Ferguson's median rent of $1,385 exceeds that threshold by $532/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 84.5 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Ferguson, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Ozark, MO
$1,384/mo (48.7% of income)
Kansas City, MO
$1,384/mo (48.7% of income)
Ozark, MO
$1,383/mo (48.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ferguson

View full rent data for Ferguson, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Ferguson, MO?

Median rent in Ferguson is $1,385 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Missouri earns about $34,104 a year, which makes that rent 48.7% 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 Ferguson?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Missouri (~$34,104/yr) supports up to $853 a month in rent. Ferguson's current median rent is $1,385/mo, which is $532/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Missouri works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover Ferguson's median rent of $1,385.

Where is rent cheaper than Ferguson for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Ozark ($1,384/mo), Kansas City ($1,384/mo), Ozark ($1,383/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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