Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Powell, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 83.7% of gross income.

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

Powell median rent
$2,395/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Ohio)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
83.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. Powell's median rent of $2,395 exceeds that threshold by $1,537/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 145.1 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 Powell, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Pickerington, OH
$2,390/mo (83.5% of income)
Kenwood, OH
$2,363/mo (82.6% of income)
Kenwood, OH
$2,342/mo (81.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Powell

View full rent data for Powell, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Powell, OH?

Median rent in Powell is $2,395 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 83.7% 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 Powell?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Powell's current median rent is $2,395/mo, which is $1,537/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 145.1 hours a month to cover Powell's median rent of $2,395.

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

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Pickerington ($2,390/mo), Kenwood ($2,363/mo), Kenwood ($2,342/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 Powell, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.