Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Winthrop, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.9% of gross income.
Winthrop rent: July 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 Winthrop, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Winthrop
View full rent data for Winthrop, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Winthrop, MA?
Median rent in Winthrop is $2,714 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Massachusetts earns about $42,375 a year, which makes that rent 76.9% 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 Winthrop?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Massachusetts (~$42,375/yr) supports up to $1,059 a month in rent. Winthrop's current median rent is $2,714/mo, which is $1,655/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Winthrop?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Massachusetts works roughly 133.2 hours a month to cover Winthrop's median rent of $2,714.
Where is rent cheaper than Winthrop for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Arlington ($2,713/mo), North Andover ($2,711/mo), Bridgewater ($2,711/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.