Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Cherry Creek, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.5% of gross income.

Cherry Creek rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Cherry Creek median rent
$1,894/mo
Firefighter salary (Colorado)
$65,951/yr
Rent as % of income
34.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,496, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,649/mo in rent. Cherry Creek's median rent of $1,894 exceeds that threshold by $245/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 59.7 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Cherry Creek, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Thornton, CO
$1,892/mo (34.4% of income)
Thornton, CO
$1,889/mo (34.4% of income)
Thornton, CO
$1,889/mo (34.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cherry Creek

View full rent data for Cherry Creek, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Cherry Creek, CO?

Median rent in Cherry Creek is $1,894 a month. A typical firefighter in Colorado earns about $65,951 a year, which makes that rent 34.5% 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 Cherry Creek?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Colorado (~$65,951/yr) supports up to $1,649 a month in rent. Cherry Creek's current median rent is $1,894/mo, which is $245/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a firefighter in Colorado works roughly 59.7 hours a month to cover Cherry Creek's median rent of $1,894.

Where is rent cheaper than Cherry Creek for a firefighter?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Thornton ($1,892/mo), Thornton ($1,889/mo), Thornton ($1,889/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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