Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bedford, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.6% of gross income.

Bedford rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Bedford median rent
$2,618/mo
Firefighter salary (New Hampshire)
$64,694/yr
Rent as % of income
48.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,391, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,617/mo in rent. Bedford's median rent of $2,618 exceeds that threshold by $1,001/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 84.2 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Bedford, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Lebanon, NH
$2,614/mo (48.5% of income)
Hooksett, NH
$2,608/mo (48.4% of income)
Hooksett, NH
$2,608/mo (48.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bedford

View full rent data for Bedford, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bedford, NH?

Median rent in Bedford is $2,618 a month. A typical firefighter in New Hampshire earns about $64,694 a year, which makes that rent 48.6% 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 Bedford?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Hampshire (~$64,694/yr) supports up to $1,617 a month in rent. Bedford's current median rent is $2,618/mo, which is $1,001/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in New Hampshire works roughly 84.2 hours a month to cover Bedford's median rent of $2,618.

Where is rent cheaper than Bedford for a firefighter?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Lebanon ($2,614/mo), Hooksett ($2,608/mo), Hooksett ($2,608/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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