Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Richmond, KY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.

Richmond rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Richmond median rent
$1,188/mo
Firefighter salary (Kentucky)
$55,273/yr
Rent as % of income
25.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,606, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,382/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $1,188 leaves roughly $194/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 44.7 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Oak Grove, KY
$1,185/mo (25.7% of income)
Murray, KY
$1,184/mo (25.7% of income)
Paducah, KY
$1,183/mo (25.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Richmond, KY?

Median rent in Richmond is $1,188 a month. A typical firefighter in Kentucky earns about $55,273 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Kentucky (~$55,273/yr) supports up to $1,382 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $1,188/mo, which leaves a $194/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Kentucky works roughly 44.7 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,188.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a firefighter?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Oak Grove ($1,185/mo), Murray ($1,184/mo), Paducah ($1,183/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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