Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Tupelo, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.2% of gross income.

Tupelo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Tupelo median rent
$1,381/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Mississippi)
$30,027/yr
Rent as % of income
55.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,502, and the 30% rule supports up to $751/mo in rent. Tupelo's median rent of $1,381 exceeds that threshold by $630/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 95.7 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 Tupelo, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Gulfport, MS
$1,380/mo (55.2% of income)
Columbus, MS
$1,379/mo (55.1% of income)
Columbus, MS
$1,379/mo (55.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tupelo

View full rent data for Tupelo, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Tupelo, MS?

Median rent in Tupelo is $1,381 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Mississippi earns about $30,027 a year, which makes that rent 55.2% 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 Tupelo?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Mississippi (~$30,027/yr) supports up to $751 a month in rent. Tupelo's current median rent is $1,381/mo, which is $630/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a retail salesperson in Mississippi works roughly 95.7 hours a month to cover Tupelo's median rent of $1,381.

Where is rent cheaper than Tupelo for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Gulfport ($1,380/mo), Columbus ($1,379/mo), Columbus ($1,379/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 Tupelo, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.