Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Commerce, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.4% of gross income.

Commerce rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Commerce median rent
$1,173/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Texas)
$36,699/yr
Rent as % of income
38.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,058, and the 30% rule supports up to $917/mo in rent. Commerce's median rent of $1,173 exceeds that threshold by $256/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 66.5 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Commerce, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Texarkana, TX
$1,172/mo (38.3% of income)
Victoria, TX
$1,171/mo (38.3% of income)
Orange, TX
$1,171/mo (38.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Commerce

View full rent data for Commerce, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Commerce, TX?

Median rent in Commerce is $1,173 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Texas earns about $36,699 a year, which makes that rent 38.4% 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 Commerce?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Texas (~$36,699/yr) supports up to $917 a month in rent. Commerce's current median rent is $1,173/mo, which is $256/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Texas works roughly 66.5 hours a month to cover Commerce's median rent of $1,173.

Where is rent cheaper than Commerce for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Texarkana ($1,172/mo), Victoria ($1,171/mo), Orange ($1,171/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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