Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lunenburg, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.7% of gross income.

Lunenburg rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Lunenburg median rent
$2,834/mo
Firefighter salary (Massachusetts)
$72,860/yr
Rent as % of income
46.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,072, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,822/mo in rent. Lunenburg's median rent of $2,834 exceeds that threshold by $1,012/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 80.9 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Lunenburg, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Marblehead, MA
$2,833/mo (46.7% of income)
Maynard, MA
$2,833/mo (46.7% of income)
Danvers, MA
$2,831/mo (46.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lunenburg

View full rent data for Lunenburg, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lunenburg, MA?

Median rent in Lunenburg is $2,834 a month. A typical firefighter in Massachusetts earns about $72,860 a year, which makes that rent 46.7% 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 Lunenburg?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Massachusetts (~$72,860/yr) supports up to $1,822 a month in rent. Lunenburg's current median rent is $2,834/mo, which is $1,012/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a firefighter in Massachusetts works roughly 80.9 hours a month to cover Lunenburg's median rent of $2,834.

Where is rent cheaper than Lunenburg for a firefighter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Marblehead ($2,833/mo), Maynard ($2,833/mo), Danvers ($2,831/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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