Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Laguna Hills, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.3% of gross income.

Laguna Hills rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Laguna Hills median rent
$3,048/mo
Firefighter salary (California)
$74,116/yr
Rent as % of income
49.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,176, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,853/mo in rent. Laguna Hills's median rent of $3,048 exceeds that threshold by $1,195/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 85.5 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 Laguna Hills, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Santa Clara, CA
$3,047/mo (49.3% of income)
San Marcos, CA
$3,047/mo (49.3% of income)
Lomita, CA
$3,047/mo (49.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laguna Hills

View full rent data for Laguna Hills, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Laguna Hills, CA?

Median rent in Laguna Hills is $3,048 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 49.3% 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 Laguna Hills?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Laguna Hills's current median rent is $3,048/mo, which is $1,195/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 85.5 hours a month to cover Laguna Hills's median rent of $3,048.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Hills for a firefighter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Santa Clara ($3,047/mo), San Marcos ($3,047/mo), Lomita ($3,047/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 Laguna Hills, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.