Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Ware, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.9% of gross income.

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

Ware median rent
$1,388/mo
Firefighter salary (Massachusetts)
$72,860/yr
Rent as % of income
22.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,072, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,822/mo in rent. Ware's median rent of $1,388 leaves roughly $434/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 39.6 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 Ware, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Fall River, MA
$1,216/mo (20% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,172/mo (19.3% of income)
Fall River, MA
$1,119/mo (18.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ware

View full rent data for Ware, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Ware, MA?

Median rent in Ware is $1,388 a month. A typical firefighter in Massachusetts earns about $72,860 a year, which makes that rent 22.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Ware?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Massachusetts (~$72,860/yr) supports up to $1,822 a month in rent. Ware's current median rent is $1,388/mo, which leaves a $434/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a firefighter in Massachusetts works roughly 39.6 hours a month to cover Ware's median rent of $1,388.

Where is rent cheaper than Ware for a firefighter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Fall River ($1,216/mo), Springfield ($1,172/mo), Fall River ($1,119/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 Ware, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.