Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Bedford Heights, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38% of gross income.

Bedford Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Bedford Heights median rent
$1,086/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Ohio)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
38%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. Bedford Heights's median rent of $1,086 exceeds that threshold by $228/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 65.8 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Bedford Heights, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Fairview Park, OH
$1,085/mo (37.9% of income)
Vandalia, OH
$1,084/mo (37.9% of income)
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
$1,083/mo (37.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bedford Heights

View full rent data for Bedford Heights, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Bedford Heights, OH?

Median rent in Bedford Heights is $1,086 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 38% 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 Bedford Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Bedford Heights's current median rent is $1,086/mo, which is $228/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 65.8 hours a month to cover Bedford Heights's median rent of $1,086.

Where is rent cheaper than Bedford Heights for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Fairview Park ($1,085/mo), Vandalia ($1,084/mo), Cuyahoga Falls ($1,083/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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