Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Newburyport, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.7% of gross income.
Newburyport rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Newburyport, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Newburyport
View full rent data for Newburyport, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Newburyport, MA?
Median rent in Newburyport is $2,886 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Massachusetts earns about $42,375 a year, which makes that rent 81.7% 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 Newburyport?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Massachusetts (~$42,375/yr) supports up to $1,059 a month in rent. Newburyport's current median rent is $2,886/mo, which is $1,827/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Newburyport?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Massachusetts works roughly 141.7 hours a month to cover Newburyport's median rent of $2,886.
Where is rent cheaper than Newburyport for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Braintree ($2,884/mo), Amherst ($2,882/mo), Stoneham ($2,882/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.