Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Hattiesburg, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56% of gross income.

Hattiesburg rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Hattiesburg median rent
$1,402/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Mississippi)
$30,027/yr
Rent as % of income
56%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,502, and the 30% rule supports up to $751/mo in rent. Hattiesburg's median rent of $1,402 exceeds that threshold by $651/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 97.1 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Hattiesburg, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Gulfport, MS
$1,399/mo (55.9% of income)
Ridgeland, MS
$1,398/mo (55.9% of income)
Gulfport, MS
$1,397/mo (55.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hattiesburg

View full rent data for Hattiesburg, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Hattiesburg, MS?

Median rent in Hattiesburg is $1,402 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Mississippi earns about $30,027 a year, which makes that rent 56% 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 Hattiesburg?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Mississippi (~$30,027/yr) supports up to $751 a month in rent. Hattiesburg's current median rent is $1,402/mo, which is $651/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a retail salesperson in Mississippi works roughly 97.1 hours a month to cover Hattiesburg's median rent of $1,402.

Where is rent cheaper than Hattiesburg for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Gulfport ($1,399/mo), Ridgeland ($1,398/mo), Gulfport ($1,397/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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