Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in De Forest, WI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.2% of gross income.
De Forest rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than De Forest, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for De Forest
View full rent data for De Forest, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in De Forest, WI?
Median rent in De Forest is $1,683 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wisconsin earns about $34,704 a year, which makes that rent 58.2% 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 De Forest?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wisconsin (~$34,704/yr) supports up to $868 a month in rent. De Forest's current median rent is $1,683/mo, which is $815/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in De Forest?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wisconsin works roughly 100.9 hours a month to cover De Forest's median rent of $1,683.
Where is rent cheaper than De Forest for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oak Creek ($1,682/mo), Mount Pleasant ($1,680/mo), Saint Francis ($1,680/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.