Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in La Canada Flintridge, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 102.4% of gross income.

La Canada Flintridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

La Canada Flintridge median rent
$6,327/mo
Firefighter salary (California)
$74,116/yr
Rent as % of income
102.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,176, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,853/mo in rent. La Canada Flintridge's median rent of $6,327 exceeds that threshold by $4,474/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 177.6 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 La Canada Flintridge, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
$6,281/mo (101.7% of income)
San Marino, CA
$6,258/mo (101.3% of income)
San Marino, CA
$6,172/mo (99.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Canada Flintridge

View full rent data for La Canada Flintridge, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in La Canada Flintridge, CA?

Median rent in La Canada Flintridge is $6,327 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 102.4% 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 La Canada Flintridge?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. La Canada Flintridge's current median rent is $6,327/mo, which is $4,474/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in La Canada Flintridge?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 177.6 hours a month to cover La Canada Flintridge's median rent of $6,327.

Where is rent cheaper than La Canada Flintridge for a firefighter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Carmel-by-the-Sea ($6,281/mo), San Marino ($6,258/mo), San Marino ($6,172/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 La Canada Flintridge, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.