Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Dana Point, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.8% of gross income.

Dana Point rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Dana Point median rent
$4,249/mo
Firefighter salary (California)
$74,116/yr
Rent as % of income
68.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,176, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,853/mo in rent. Dana Point's median rent of $4,249 exceeds that threshold by $2,396/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 119.2 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 California cities have lower median rent than Dana Point, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Moraga, CA
$4,246/mo (68.7% of income)
Beverly Hills, CA
$4,243/mo (68.7% of income)
Los Gatos, CA
$4,242/mo (68.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dana Point

View full rent data for Dana Point, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Dana Point, CA?

Median rent in Dana Point is $4,249 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 68.8% 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 Dana Point?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Dana Point's current median rent is $4,249/mo, which is $2,396/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 119.2 hours a month to cover Dana Point's median rent of $4,249.

Where is rent cheaper than Dana Point for a firefighter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Moraga ($4,246/mo), Beverly Hills ($4,243/mo), Los Gatos ($4,242/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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