Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Grafton, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.8% of gross income.

Grafton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Grafton median rent
$1,783/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Wisconsin)
$35,217/yr
Rent as % of income
60.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,935, and the 30% rule supports up to $880/mo in rent. Grafton's median rent of $1,783 exceeds that threshold by $903/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 105.3 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Grafton, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Oak Creek, WI
$1,782/mo (60.7% of income)
Fitchburg, WI
$1,780/mo (60.7% of income)
Oak Creek, WI
$1,779/mo (60.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grafton

View full rent data for Grafton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Grafton, WI?

Median rent in Grafton is $1,783 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Wisconsin earns about $35,217 a year, which makes that rent 60.8% 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 Grafton?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Wisconsin (~$35,217/yr) supports up to $880 a month in rent. Grafton's current median rent is $1,783/mo, which is $903/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Wisconsin works roughly 105.3 hours a month to cover Grafton's median rent of $1,783.

Where is rent cheaper than Grafton for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oak Creek ($1,782/mo), Fitchburg ($1,780/mo), Oak Creek ($1,779/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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