Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Wahpeton, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.8% of gross income.

Wahpeton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Wahpeton median rent
$903/mo
Firefighter salary (North Dakota)
$60,926/yr
Rent as % of income
17.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,523/mo in rent. Wahpeton's median rent of $903 leaves roughly $620/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 30.8 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Wahpeton, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Jamestown, ND
$890/mo (17.5% of income)
Grand Forks, ND
$884/mo (17.4% of income)
Fargo, ND
$874/mo (17.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wahpeton

View full rent data for Wahpeton, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Wahpeton, ND?

Median rent in Wahpeton is $903 a month. A typical firefighter in North Dakota earns about $60,926 a year, which makes that rent 17.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Wahpeton?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in North Dakota (~$60,926/yr) supports up to $1,523 a month in rent. Wahpeton's current median rent is $903/mo, which leaves a $620/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in North Dakota works roughly 30.8 hours a month to cover Wahpeton's median rent of $903.

Where is rent cheaper than Wahpeton for a firefighter?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Jamestown ($890/mo), Grand Forks ($884/mo), Fargo ($874/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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