Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Flint, MI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.3% of gross income.

Flint rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Flint median rent
$969/mo
Firefighter salary (Michigan)
$60,298/yr
Rent as % of income
19.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,507/mo in rent. Flint's median rent of $969 leaves roughly $538/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 33.4 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Flint, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Saginaw, MI
$968/mo (19.3% of income)
Pontiac, MI
$967/mo (19.2% of income)
Saginaw, MI
$965/mo (19.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Flint

View full rent data for Flint, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Flint, MI?

Median rent in Flint is $969 a month. A typical firefighter in Michigan earns about $60,298 a year, which makes that rent 19.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Flint?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Michigan (~$60,298/yr) supports up to $1,507 a month in rent. Flint's current median rent is $969/mo, which leaves a $538/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Michigan works roughly 33.4 hours a month to cover Flint's median rent of $969.

Where is rent cheaper than Flint for a firefighter?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Saginaw ($968/mo), Pontiac ($967/mo), Saginaw ($965/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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