Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Ashland, OH?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.
Ashland rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Ashland, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ashland
View full rent data for Ashland, OH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Ashland, OH?
Median rent in Ashland is $960 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Ashland?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Ashland's current median rent is $960/mo, which is $102/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Ashland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Ashland's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Ashland for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Youngstown ($956/mo), Bedford Heights ($955/mo), Warren ($955/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.