Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Havre de Grace, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.2% of gross income.

Havre de Grace rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Havre de Grace median rent
$1,818/mo
Firefighter salary (Maryland)
$67,835/yr
Rent as % of income
32.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,696/mo in rent. Havre de Grace's median rent of $1,818 exceeds that threshold by $122/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 55.7 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Havre de Grace, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Middle River, MD
$1,817/mo (32.1% of income)
Elkton, MD
$1,816/mo (32.1% of income)
Towson, MD
$1,815/mo (32.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Havre de Grace

View full rent data for Havre de Grace, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Havre de Grace, MD?

Median rent in Havre de Grace is $1,818 a month. A typical firefighter in Maryland earns about $67,835 a year, which makes that rent 32.2% 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 Havre de Grace?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Maryland (~$67,835/yr) supports up to $1,696 a month in rent. Havre de Grace's current median rent is $1,818/mo, which is $122/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Havre de Grace?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a firefighter in Maryland works roughly 55.7 hours a month to cover Havre de Grace's median rent of $1,818.

Where is rent cheaper than Havre de Grace for a firefighter?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Middle River ($1,817/mo), Elkton ($1,816/mo), Towson ($1,815/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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