Can A Software Developer Afford Rent in Spencer, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.2% of gross income.

Spencer rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Spencer median rent
$1,898/mo
Software Developer salary (Massachusetts)
$160,208/yr
Rent as % of income
14.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,351, and the 30% rule supports up to $4,005/mo in rent. Spencer's median rent of $1,898 leaves roughly $2,107/mo of headroom under that threshold. A software developer works roughly 24.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a software developer salary

Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Spencer, which improves the affordability math on a software developer salary:

New Bedford, MA
$1,880/mo (14.1% of income)
Plymouth, MA
$1,879/mo (14.1% of income)
Webster, MA
$1,878/mo (14.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Spencer

View full rent data for Spencer, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a software developer afford rent in Spencer, MA?

Median rent in Spencer is $1,898 a month. A typical software developer in Massachusetts earns about $160,208 a year, which makes that rent 14.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a software developer afford in Spencer?

Using the 30% rule, a software developer salary in Massachusetts (~$160,208/yr) supports up to $4,005 a month in rent. Spencer's current median rent is $1,898/mo, which leaves a $2,107/mo buffer.

How many hours does a software developer work to cover rent in Spencer?

At an hourly equivalent of about $77 an hour, a software developer in Massachusetts works roughly 24.6 hours a month to cover Spencer's median rent of $1,898.

Where is rent cheaper than Spencer for a software developer?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include New Bedford ($1,880/mo), Plymouth ($1,879/mo), Webster ($1,878/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a software developer salary.

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