Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hood River, OR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 111.2% of gross income.
Hood River rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Hood River, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hood River
View full rent data for Hood River, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hood River, OR?
Median rent in Hood River is $3,522 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Oregon earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 111.2% 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 Hood River?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Oregon (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Hood River's current median rent is $3,522/mo, which is $2,572/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Hood River?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Oregon works roughly 192.8 hours a month to cover Hood River's median rent of $3,522.
Where is rent cheaper than Hood River for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Sherwood ($2,577/mo), Sherwood ($2,497/mo), Sherwood ($2,497/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.