Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Laconia, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.2% of gross income.

Laconia rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Laconia median rent
$1,887/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (New Hampshire)
$37,626/yr
Rent as % of income
60.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,136, and the 30% rule supports up to $941/mo in rent. Laconia's median rent of $1,887 exceeds that threshold by $946/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 104.3 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Laconia, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Concord, NH
$1,885/mo (60.1% of income)
Concord, NH
$1,874/mo (59.8% of income)
Concord, NH
$1,872/mo (59.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laconia

View full rent data for Laconia, NH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Laconia, NH?

Median rent in Laconia is $1,887 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in New Hampshire earns about $37,626 a year, which makes that rent 60.2% 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 Laconia?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in New Hampshire (~$37,626/yr) supports up to $941 a month in rent. Laconia's current median rent is $1,887/mo, which is $946/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in New Hampshire works roughly 104.3 hours a month to cover Laconia's median rent of $1,887.

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

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Concord ($1,885/mo), Concord ($1,874/mo), Concord ($1,872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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