Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lake Arbor, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

Lake Arbor rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Lake Arbor median rent
$2,111/mo
Firefighter salary (Maryland)
$67,835/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,696/mo in rent. Lake Arbor's median rent of $2,111 exceeds that threshold by $415/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 64.7 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 Lake Arbor, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Lanham Seabrook, MD
$2,110/mo (37.3% of income)
Ijamsville, MD
$2,109/mo (37.3% of income)
Columbia, MD
$2,109/mo (37.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Arbor

View full rent data for Lake Arbor, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lake Arbor, MD?

Median rent in Lake Arbor is $2,111 a month. A typical firefighter in Maryland earns about $67,835 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% 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 Lake Arbor?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Maryland (~$67,835/yr) supports up to $1,696 a month in rent. Lake Arbor's current median rent is $2,111/mo, which is $415/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a firefighter in Maryland works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover Lake Arbor's median rent of $2,111.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Arbor for a firefighter?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Lanham Seabrook ($2,110/mo), Ijamsville ($2,109/mo), Columbia ($2,109/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 Lake Arbor, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.