Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Shelley, ID?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.9% of gross income.
Shelley rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Shelley, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Shelley
View full rent data for Shelley, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Shelley, ID?
Median rent in Shelley is $925 a month. A typical firefighter in Idaho earns about $55,901 a year, which makes that rent 19.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Shelley?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Idaho (~$55,901/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Shelley's current median rent is $925/mo, which leaves a $473/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Shelley?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Idaho works roughly 34.4 hours a month to cover Shelley's median rent of $925.
Where is rent cheaper than Shelley for a firefighter?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Rexburg ($915/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.