Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Ocean Springs, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.6% of gross income.

Ocean Springs rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Ocean Springs median rent
$1,723/mo
Firefighter salary (Mississippi)
$50,876/yr
Rent as % of income
40.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,240, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Ocean Springs's median rent of $1,723 exceeds that threshold by $451/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 70.4 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Ocean Springs, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Clinton, MS
$1,702/mo (40.1% of income)
Clinton, MS
$1,700/mo (40.1% of income)
Diberville, MS
$1,700/mo (40.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ocean Springs

View full rent data for Ocean Springs, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Ocean Springs, MS?

Median rent in Ocean Springs is $1,723 a month. A typical firefighter in Mississippi earns about $50,876 a year, which makes that rent 40.6% 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 Ocean Springs?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Mississippi (~$50,876/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Ocean Springs's current median rent is $1,723/mo, which is $451/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a firefighter in Mississippi works roughly 70.4 hours a month to cover Ocean Springs's median rent of $1,723.

Where is rent cheaper than Ocean Springs for a firefighter?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Clinton ($1,702/mo), Clinton ($1,700/mo), Diberville ($1,700/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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