Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Cortez, CO?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.
Cortez rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).
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 Cortez, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cortez
View full rent data for Cortez, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Cortez, CO?
Median rent in Cortez is $1,567 a month. A typical firefighter in Colorado earns about $65,951 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Cortez?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Colorado (~$65,951/yr) supports up to $1,649 a month in rent. Cortez's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which leaves a $82/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Cortez?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a firefighter in Colorado works roughly 49.4 hours a month to cover Cortez's median rent of $1,567.
Where is rent cheaper than Cortez for a firefighter?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Longmont ($1,559/mo), Northglenn ($1,557/mo), Fort Collins ($1,544/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.