Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Great Bend, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.2% of gross income.

Great Bend rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Great Bend median rent
$812/mo
Firefighter salary (Kansas)
$56,529/yr
Rent as % of income
17.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,711, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,413/mo in rent. Great Bend's median rent of $812 leaves roughly $601/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 29.9 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 Great Bend, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Hutchinson, KS
$810/mo (17.2% of income)
Emporia, KS
$808/mo (17.2% of income)
Hutchinson, KS
$808/mo (17.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Bend

View full rent data for Great Bend, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Great Bend, KS?

Median rent in Great Bend is $812 a month. A typical firefighter in Kansas earns about $56,529 a year, which makes that rent 17.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Great Bend?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Kansas (~$56,529/yr) supports up to $1,413 a month in rent. Great Bend's current median rent is $812/mo, which leaves a $601/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Great Bend?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Kansas works roughly 29.9 hours a month to cover Great Bend's median rent of $812.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Bend for a firefighter?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Hutchinson ($810/mo), Emporia ($808/mo), Hutchinson ($808/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 Great Bend, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.