Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Erie, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.4% of gross income.

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

Erie median rent
$2,989/mo
Firefighter salary (Colorado)
$65,951/yr
Rent as % of income
54.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,496, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,649/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $2,989 exceeds that threshold by $1,340/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 94.3 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 Erie, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Granby, CO
$2,972/mo (54.1% of income)
Castle Pines, CO
$2,947/mo (53.6% of income)
Eagle, CO
$2,946/mo (53.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Erie, CO?

Median rent in Erie is $2,989 a month. A typical firefighter in Colorado earns about $65,951 a year, which makes that rent 54.4% 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 Erie?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Colorado (~$65,951/yr) supports up to $1,649 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $2,989/mo, which is $1,340/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a firefighter in Colorado works roughly 94.3 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $2,989.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a firefighter?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Granby ($2,972/mo), Castle Pines ($2,947/mo), Eagle ($2,946/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 Erie, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.