Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Oak Park, MI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

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

Oak Park median rent
$1,445/mo
Firefighter salary (Michigan)
$60,298/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,507/mo in rent. Oak Park's median rent of $1,445 leaves roughly $62/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 49.8 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 Oak Park, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Fenton, MI
$1,444/mo (28.7% of income)
Fenton, MI
$1,444/mo (28.7% of income)
Fenton, MI
$1,443/mo (28.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oak Park

View full rent data for Oak Park, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Oak Park, MI?

Median rent in Oak Park is $1,445 a month. A typical firefighter in Michigan earns about $60,298 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Oak Park?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Michigan (~$60,298/yr) supports up to $1,507 a month in rent. Oak Park's current median rent is $1,445/mo, which leaves a $62/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Michigan works roughly 49.8 hours a month to cover Oak Park's median rent of $1,445.

Where is rent cheaper than Oak Park for a firefighter?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Fenton ($1,444/mo), Fenton ($1,444/mo), Fenton ($1,443/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 Oak Park, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.