Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bentonville, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.8% of gross income.

Bentonville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Bentonville median rent
$1,640/mo
Firefighter salary (Arkansas)
$52,132/yr
Rent as % of income
37.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,344, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,303/mo in rent. Bentonville's median rent of $1,640 exceeds that threshold by $337/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Bentonville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Gentry, AR
$1,629/mo (37.5% of income)
Centerton, AR
$1,627/mo (37.5% of income)
Farmington, AR
$1,623/mo (37.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bentonville

View full rent data for Bentonville, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bentonville, AR?

Median rent in Bentonville is $1,640 a month. A typical firefighter in Arkansas earns about $52,132 a year, which makes that rent 37.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Bentonville?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Arkansas (~$52,132/yr) supports up to $1,303 a month in rent. Bentonville's current median rent is $1,640/mo, which is $337/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Bentonville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a firefighter in Arkansas works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Bentonville's median rent of $1,640.

Where is rent cheaper than Bentonville for a firefighter?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Gentry ($1,629/mo), Centerton ($1,627/mo), Farmington ($1,623/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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