Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Fairlawn, OH?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.7% of gross income.
Fairlawn rent: February 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 Fairlawn, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairlawn
View full rent data for Fairlawn, OH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Fairlawn, OH?
Median rent in Fairlawn is $1,337 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 46.7% 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 Fairlawn?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Fairlawn's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which is $479/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Fairlawn?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 81 hours a month to cover Fairlawn's median rent of $1,337.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairlawn for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Xenia ($1,336/mo), Troy ($1,335/mo), Cleveland ($1,335/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.