Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Lawrence, IN?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.3% of gross income.
Lawrence rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).
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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lawrence
View full rent data for Lawrence, IN →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Lawrence, IN?
Median rent in Lawrence is $1,660 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Indiana earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 59.3% 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 Lawrence?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Indiana (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $1,660/mo, which is $820/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Lawrence?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Indiana works roughly 102.7 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $1,660.
Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Franklin ($1,657/mo), Franklin ($1,656/mo), Franklin ($1,653/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.