Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Fairlawn, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46% of gross income.

Fairlawn rent: February 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Fairlawn median rent
$1,337/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Ohio)
$34,846/yr
Rent as % of income
46%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,904, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Fairlawn's median rent of $1,337 exceeds that threshold by $466/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 79.8 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Fairlawn, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Xenia, OH
$1,336/mo (46% of income)
Troy, OH
$1,335/mo (46% of income)
Cleveland, OH
$1,335/mo (46% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairlawn

View full rent data for Fairlawn, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Fairlawn, OH?

Median rent in Fairlawn is $1,337 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Ohio earns about $34,846 a year, which makes that rent 46% 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 Fairlawn?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Ohio (~$34,846/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Fairlawn's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which is $466/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Ohio works roughly 79.8 hours a month to cover Fairlawn's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairlawn for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Xenia ($1,336/mo), Troy ($1,335/mo), Cleveland ($1,335/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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