Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Southampton, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 71.9% of gross income.

Southampton rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Southampton median rent
$2,167/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
71.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. Southampton's median rent of $2,167 exceeds that threshold by $1,263/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 124.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Southampton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Breinigsville, PA
$2,164/mo (71.8% of income)
Breinigsville, PA
$2,163/mo (71.8% of income)
King of Prussia, PA
$2,163/mo (71.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southampton

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Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Southampton, PA?

Median rent in Southampton is $2,167 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 71.9% 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 Southampton?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Southampton's current median rent is $2,167/mo, which is $1,263/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 124.6 hours a month to cover Southampton's median rent of $2,167.

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

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Breinigsville ($2,164/mo), Breinigsville ($2,163/mo), King of Prussia ($2,163/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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