Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bel Aire, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.6% of gross income.

Bel Aire rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Bel Aire median rent
$1,679/mo
Firefighter salary (Kansas)
$56,529/yr
Rent as % of income
35.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,711, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,413/mo in rent. Bel Aire's median rent of $1,679 exceeds that threshold by $266/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 61.8 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Bel Aire, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Goddard, KS
$1,669/mo (35.4% of income)
Overland Park, KS
$1,666/mo (35.4% of income)
Goddard, KS
$1,664/mo (35.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bel Aire

View full rent data for Bel Aire, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bel Aire, KS?

Median rent in Bel Aire is $1,679 a month. A typical firefighter in Kansas earns about $56,529 a year, which makes that rent 35.6% 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 Bel Aire?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Kansas (~$56,529/yr) supports up to $1,413 a month in rent. Bel Aire's current median rent is $1,679/mo, which is $266/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Kansas works roughly 61.8 hours a month to cover Bel Aire's median rent of $1,679.

Where is rent cheaper than Bel Aire for a firefighter?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Goddard ($1,669/mo), Overland Park ($1,666/mo), Goddard ($1,664/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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