Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Firestone, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 74.1% of gross income.

Firestone rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Firestone median rent
$2,370/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Colorado)
$38,357/yr
Rent as % of income
74.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,196, and the 30% rule supports up to $959/mo in rent. Firestone's median rent of $2,370 exceeds that threshold by $1,411/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 128.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Firestone, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Rifle, CO
$2,367/mo (74.1% of income)
Windsor, CO
$2,363/mo (73.9% of income)
Windsor, CO
$2,356/mo (73.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Firestone

View full rent data for Firestone, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Firestone, CO?

Median rent in Firestone is $2,370 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 74.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Firestone?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Firestone's current median rent is $2,370/mo, which is $1,411/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Firestone?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 128.5 hours a month to cover Firestone's median rent of $2,370.

Where is rent cheaper than Firestone for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Rifle ($2,367/mo), Windsor ($2,363/mo), Windsor ($2,356/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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