Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in New Bedford, MA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 35% of gross income.
New Bedford rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than New Bedford, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for New Bedford
View full rent data for New Bedford, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in New Bedford, MA?
Median rent in New Bedford is $1,916 a month. A typical truck driver in Massachusetts earns about $65,784 a year, which makes that rent 35% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in New Bedford?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Massachusetts (~$65,784/yr) supports up to $1,645 a month in rent. New Bedford's current median rent is $1,916/mo, which is $271/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in New Bedford?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a truck driver in Massachusetts works roughly 60.6 hours a month to cover New Bedford's median rent of $1,916.
Where is rent cheaper than New Bedford for a truck driver?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westfield ($1,910/mo), Leominster ($1,908/mo), Boxboro ($1,906/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.