Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Franklin Park, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.6% of gross income.

Franklin Park rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Franklin Park median rent
$2,673/mo
Firefighter salary (New Jersey)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
45.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Franklin Park's median rent of $2,673 exceeds that threshold by $914/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 79 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 Jersey cities have lower median rent than Franklin Park, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Parlin, NJ
$2,672/mo (45.6% of income)
Pennington, NJ
$2,671/mo (45.6% of income)
Mount Arlington, NJ
$2,671/mo (45.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Franklin Park

View full rent data for Franklin Park, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Franklin Park, NJ?

Median rent in Franklin Park is $2,673 a month. A typical firefighter in New Jersey earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 45.6% 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 Franklin Park?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Jersey (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Franklin Park's current median rent is $2,673/mo, which is $914/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New Jersey works roughly 79 hours a month to cover Franklin Park's median rent of $2,673.

Where is rent cheaper than Franklin Park for a firefighter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Parlin ($2,672/mo), Pennington ($2,671/mo), Mount Arlington ($2,671/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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