Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hopkinsville, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.2% of gross income.

Hopkinsville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Hopkinsville median rent
$997/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Kentucky)
$32,146/yr
Rent as % of income
37.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,679, and the 30% rule supports up to $804/mo in rent. Hopkinsville's median rent of $997 exceeds that threshold by $193/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 64.5 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Hopkinsville, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Louisville, KY
$993/mo (37.1% of income)
Richmond, KY
$992/mo (37% of income)
Lexington, KY
$991/mo (37% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hopkinsville

View full rent data for Hopkinsville, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hopkinsville, KY?

Median rent in Hopkinsville is $997 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Kentucky earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 37.2% 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 Hopkinsville?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Kentucky (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Hopkinsville's current median rent is $997/mo, which is $193/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Kentucky works roughly 64.5 hours a month to cover Hopkinsville's median rent of $997.

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

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Louisville ($993/mo), Richmond ($992/mo), Lexington ($991/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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