Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

Pleasant Hill rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Pleasant Hill median rent
$1,346/mo
Firefighter salary (Iowa)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Pleasant Hill's median rent of $1,346 leaves roughly $99/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 48.4 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Pleasant Hill, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

North Liberty, IA
$1,345/mo (27.9% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,345/mo (27.9% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,344/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pleasant Hill

View full rent data for Pleasant Hill, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Median rent in Pleasant Hill is $1,346 a month. A typical firefighter in Iowa earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Pleasant Hill?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Iowa (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Pleasant Hill's current median rent is $1,346/mo, which leaves a $99/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Iowa works roughly 48.4 hours a month to cover Pleasant Hill's median rent of $1,346.

Where is rent cheaper than Pleasant Hill for a firefighter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include North Liberty ($1,345/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,345/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,344/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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