Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.9% of gross income.

Madison Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Madison Heights median rent
$1,351/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Virginia)
$37,811/yr
Rent as % of income
42.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,151, and the 30% rule supports up to $945/mo in rent. Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351 exceeds that threshold by $406/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 74.3 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Madison Heights, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Hopewell, VA
$1,348/mo (42.8% of income)
Staunton, VA
$1,348/mo (42.8% of income)
Roanoke, VA
$1,345/mo (42.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison Heights

View full rent data for Madison Heights, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Median rent in Madison Heights is $1,351 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Virginia earns about $37,811 a year, which makes that rent 42.9% 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 Madison Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Virginia (~$37,811/yr) supports up to $945 a month in rent. Madison Heights's current median rent is $1,351/mo, which is $406/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Virginia works roughly 74.3 hours a month to cover Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison Heights for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hopewell ($1,348/mo), Staunton ($1,348/mo), Roanoke ($1,345/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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