Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lehigh Acres, FL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.1% of gross income.

Lehigh Acres rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Lehigh Acres median rent
$1,856/mo
Firefighter salary (Florida)
$58,413/yr
Rent as % of income
38.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,868, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,460/mo in rent. Lehigh Acres's median rent of $1,856 exceeds that threshold by $396/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 66.1 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Lehigh Acres, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Palm Bay, FL
$1,855/mo (38.1% of income)
Bradenton, FL
$1,855/mo (38.1% of income)
Palm Bay, FL
$1,855/mo (38.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lehigh Acres

View full rent data for Lehigh Acres, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lehigh Acres, FL?

Median rent in Lehigh Acres is $1,856 a month. A typical firefighter in Florida earns about $58,413 a year, which makes that rent 38.1% 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 Lehigh Acres?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Florida (~$58,413/yr) supports up to $1,460 a month in rent. Lehigh Acres's current median rent is $1,856/mo, which is $396/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Florida works roughly 66.1 hours a month to cover Lehigh Acres's median rent of $1,856.

Where is rent cheaper than Lehigh Acres for a firefighter?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Palm Bay ($1,855/mo), Bradenton ($1,855/mo), Palm Bay ($1,855/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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