Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Racine, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.2% of gross income.

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

Racine median rent
$1,180/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Wisconsin)
$35,217/yr
Rent as % of income
40.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,935, and the 30% rule supports up to $880/mo in rent. Racine's median rent of $1,180 exceeds that threshold by $300/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 69.7 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 Racine, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Appleton, WI
$1,179/mo (40.2% of income)
Cudahy, WI
$1,178/mo (40.1% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,176/mo (40.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Racine

View full rent data for Racine, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Racine, WI?

Median rent in Racine is $1,180 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Wisconsin earns about $35,217 a year, which makes that rent 40.2% 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 Racine?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Wisconsin (~$35,217/yr) supports up to $880 a month in rent. Racine's current median rent is $1,180/mo, which is $300/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Wisconsin works roughly 69.7 hours a month to cover Racine's median rent of $1,180.

Where is rent cheaper than Racine for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Appleton ($1,179/mo), Cudahy ($1,178/mo), Menasha ($1,176/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 Racine, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.