Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Woonsocket, RI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.2% of gross income.
Woonsocket rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Woonsocket, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Woonsocket
View full rent data for Woonsocket, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Woonsocket, RI?
Median rent in Woonsocket is $1,684 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Rhode Island earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 53.2% 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 Woonsocket?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Rhode Island (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Woonsocket's current median rent is $1,684/mo, which is $734/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Woonsocket?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Rhode Island works roughly 92.2 hours a month to cover Woonsocket's median rent of $1,684.
Where is rent cheaper than Woonsocket for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include West Warwick ($1,683/mo), West Warwick ($1,682/mo), West Warwick ($1,682/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.