Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Middletown, OH?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.5% of gross income.
Middletown rent: June 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 Middletown, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Middletown
View full rent data for Middletown, OH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Middletown, OH?
Median rent in Middletown is $1,272 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 44.5% 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 Middletown?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Middletown's current median rent is $1,272/mo, which is $414/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Middletown?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 77.1 hours a month to cover Middletown's median rent of $1,272.
Where is rent cheaper than Middletown for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Miamisburg ($1,271/mo), Norwood ($1,269/mo), Miamisburg ($1,265/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.