Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Kennedale, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.3% of gross income.

Kennedale rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Kennedale median rent
$1,666/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Texas)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
55.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. Kennedale's median rent of $1,666 exceeds that threshold by $762/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 95.8 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Kennedale, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Ennis, TX
$1,665/mo (55.2% of income)
Woodway, TX
$1,665/mo (55.2% of income)
Cleveland, TX
$1,665/mo (55.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kennedale

View full rent data for Kennedale, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Kennedale, TX?

Median rent in Kennedale is $1,666 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Texas earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 55.3% 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 Kennedale?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Texas (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Kennedale's current median rent is $1,666/mo, which is $762/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Texas works roughly 95.8 hours a month to cover Kennedale's median rent of $1,666.

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

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Ennis ($1,665/mo), Woodway ($1,665/mo), Cleveland ($1,665/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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