Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hooksett, NH?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.5% of gross income.
Hooksett rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Hooksett, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hooksett
View full rent data for Hooksett, NH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hooksett, NH?
Median rent in Hooksett is $2,399 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in New Hampshire earns about $37,626 a year, which makes that rent 76.5% 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 Hooksett?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in New Hampshire (~$37,626/yr) supports up to $941 a month in rent. Hooksett's current median rent is $2,399/mo, which is $1,458/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Hooksett?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in New Hampshire works roughly 132.6 hours a month to cover Hooksett's median rent of $2,399.
Where is rent cheaper than Hooksett for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Lebanon ($2,394/mo), Merrimack ($2,393/mo), Lebanon ($2,376/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.