Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Ponce Inlet, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.4% of gross income.

Ponce Inlet rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Ponce Inlet median rent
$2,500/mo
Firefighter salary (Florida)
$58,413/yr
Rent as % of income
51.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,868, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,460/mo in rent. Ponce Inlet's median rent of $2,500 exceeds that threshold by $1,040/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 89 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 Ponce Inlet, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Sunrise, FL
$2,499/mo (51.3% of income)
Lakewood Ranch, FL
$2,499/mo (51.3% of income)
Lakewood Ranch, FL
$2,499/mo (51.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ponce Inlet

View full rent data for Ponce Inlet, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Ponce Inlet, FL?

Median rent in Ponce Inlet is $2,500 a month. A typical firefighter in Florida earns about $58,413 a year, which makes that rent 51.4% 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 Ponce Inlet?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Florida (~$58,413/yr) supports up to $1,460 a month in rent. Ponce Inlet's current median rent is $2,500/mo, which is $1,040/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Florida works roughly 89 hours a month to cover Ponce Inlet's median rent of $2,500.

Where is rent cheaper than Ponce Inlet for a firefighter?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Sunrise ($2,499/mo), Lakewood Ranch ($2,499/mo), Lakewood Ranch ($2,499/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 Ponce Inlet, FL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.