Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Gloucester City, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.6% of gross income.

Gloucester City rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Gloucester City median rent
$1,852/mo
Firefighter salary (New Jersey)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
31.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Gloucester City's median rent of $1,852 exceeds that threshold by $93/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 54.8 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Gloucester City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Pennsauken, NJ
$1,849/mo (31.5% of income)
Budd Lake, NJ
$1,847/mo (31.5% of income)
Budd Lake, NJ
$1,847/mo (31.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gloucester City

View full rent data for Gloucester City, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Gloucester City, NJ?

Median rent in Gloucester City is $1,852 a month. A typical firefighter in New Jersey earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 31.6% 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 Gloucester City?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Jersey (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Gloucester City's current median rent is $1,852/mo, which is $93/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New Jersey works roughly 54.8 hours a month to cover Gloucester City's median rent of $1,852.

Where is rent cheaper than Gloucester City for a firefighter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Pennsauken ($1,849/mo), Budd Lake ($1,847/mo), Budd Lake ($1,847/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 Gloucester City, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.