Rent Affordability for A Firefighter in Minnesota
A typical firefighter in Minnesota earns about $65,322 a year, which supports approximately $1,633 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Minnesota city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 31 of 70 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 39 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca, MN | $990/mo | 18.2% | very comfortable |
| Bemidji, MN | $1,023/mo | 18.8% | very comfortable |
| Albert Lea, MN | $1,043/mo | 19.2% | very comfortable |
| Winona, MN | $1,065/mo | 19.6% | very comfortable |
| Owatonna, MN | $1,081/mo | 19.9% | very comfortable |
| Moorhead, MN | $1,093/mo | 20.1% | affordable |
| Waite Park, MN | $1,143/mo | 21% | affordable |
| Austin, MN | $1,161/mo | 21.3% | affordable |
| Saint Cloud, MN | $1,241/mo | 22.8% | affordable |
| Mankato, MN | $1,257/mo | 23.1% | affordable |
| New Hope, MN | $1,359/mo | 25% | affordable |
| Crystal, MN | $1,385/mo | 25.4% | affordable |
| Fridley, MN | $1,389/mo | 25.5% | affordable |
| Little Canada, MN | $1,390/mo | 25.5% | affordable |
| Richfield, MN | $1,393/mo | 25.6% | affordable |
| Brooklyn Center, MN | $1,395/mo | 25.6% | affordable |
| New Brighton, MN | $1,394/mo | 25.6% | affordable |
| Anoka, MN | $1,422/mo | 26.1% | affordable |
| North Saint Paul, MN | $1,422/mo | 26.1% | affordable |
| West Saint Paul, MN | $1,428/mo | 26.2% | affordable |
| Duluth, MN | $1,434/mo | 26.3% | affordable |
| Maplewood, MN | $1,488/mo | 27.3% | affordable |
| Burnsville, MN | $1,493/mo | 27.4% | affordable |
| South Saint Paul, MN | $1,504/mo | 27.6% | affordable |
| Saint Paul, MN | $1,524/mo | 28% | affordable |
| Roseville, MN | $1,553/mo | 28.5% | affordable |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | $1,558/mo | 28.6% | affordable |
| Forest Lake, MN | $1,573/mo | 28.9% | affordable |
| Rochester, MN | $1,602/mo | 29.4% | affordable |
| Columbia Heights, MN | $1,616/mo | 29.7% | affordable |
| Hopkins, MN | $1,617/mo | 29.7% | affordable |
| Buffalo, MN | $1,663/mo | 30.6% | stretched |
| Monticello, MN | $1,668/mo | 30.6% | stretched |
| Coon Rapids, MN | $1,672/mo | 30.7% | stretched |
| Robbinsdale, MN | $1,673/mo | 30.7% | stretched |
| Eagan, MN | $1,679/mo | 30.8% | stretched |
| Bloomington, MN | $1,681/mo | 30.9% | stretched |
| Northfield, MN | $1,739/mo | 31.9% | stretched |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,747/mo | 32.1% | stretched |
| White Bear Lake, MN | $1,745/mo | 32.1% | stretched |
| Shakopee, MN | $1,763/mo | 32.4% | stretched |
| Inver Grove Heights, MN | $1,795/mo | 33% | stretched |
| Minnetonka, MN | $1,822/mo | 33.5% | stretched |
| Cottage Grove, MN | $1,827/mo | 33.6% | stretched |
| Chaska, MN | $1,828/mo | 33.6% | stretched |
| Eden Prairie, MN | $1,837/mo | 33.7% | stretched |
| Spring Park, MN | $1,838/mo | 33.8% | stretched |
| Saint Louis Park, MN | $1,851/mo | 34% | stretched |
| Oakdale, MN | $1,858/mo | 34.1% | stretched |
| Champlin, MN | $1,865/mo | 34.3% | stretched |
| Plymouth, MN | $1,907/mo | 35% | stretched |
| Elk River, MN | $1,903/mo | 35% | stretched |
| Shoreview, MN | $1,910/mo | 35.1% | stretched |
| Saint Michael, MN | $1,915/mo | 35.2% | stretched |
| Savage, MN | $1,929/mo | 35.4% | stretched |
| Golden Valley, MN | $1,940/mo | 35.6% | stretched |
| Ramsey, MN | $1,983/mo | 36.4% | stretched |
| Apple Valley, MN | $1,985/mo | 36.5% | stretched |
| Edina, MN | $2,015/mo | 37% | stretched |
| Rosemount, MN | $2,035/mo | 37.4% | stretched |
| Blaine, MN | $2,064/mo | 37.9% | stretched |
| Prior Lake, MN | $2,065/mo | 37.9% | stretched |
| Vadnais Heights, MN | $2,069/mo | 38% | stretched |
| Lakeville, MN | $2,101/mo | 38.6% | stretched |
| Rogers, MN | $2,143/mo | 39.4% | stretched |
| Woodbury, MN | $2,196/mo | 40.3% | rent-burdened |
| Maple Grove, MN | $2,198/mo | 40.4% | rent-burdened |
| Victoria, MN | $2,346/mo | 43.1% | rent-burdened |
| Saint Anthony, MN | $2,363/mo | 43.4% | rent-burdened |
| Wayzata, MN | $2,791/mo | 51.3% | severely rent-burdened |