Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Jamestown, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

Jamestown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Jamestown median rent
$1,117/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (North Dakota)
$35,958/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,997, and the 30% rule supports up to $899/mo in rent. Jamestown's median rent of $1,117 exceeds that threshold by $218/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 64.6 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Jamestown, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Grand Forks, ND
$1,115/mo (37.2% of income)
Grand Forks, ND
$1,113/mo (37.1% of income)
Mandan, ND
$1,110/mo (37% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jamestown

View full rent data for Jamestown, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Jamestown, ND?

Median rent in Jamestown is $1,117 a month. A typical retail salesperson in North Dakota earns about $35,958 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% 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 Jamestown?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in North Dakota (~$35,958/yr) supports up to $899 a month in rent. Jamestown's current median rent is $1,117/mo, which is $218/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in North Dakota works roughly 64.6 hours a month to cover Jamestown's median rent of $1,117.

Where is rent cheaper than Jamestown for a retail salesperson?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Grand Forks ($1,115/mo), Grand Forks ($1,113/mo), Mandan ($1,110/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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