Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Monroe Township, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.9% of gross income.

Monroe Township rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Monroe Township median rent
$2,927/mo
Firefighter salary (New Jersey)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
49.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Monroe Township's median rent of $2,927 exceeds that threshold by $1,168/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 86.5 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 Monroe Township, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Parsippany, NJ
$2,925/mo (49.9% of income)
Morristown, NJ
$2,925/mo (49.9% of income)
Metuchen, NJ
$2,924/mo (49.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monroe Township

View full rent data for Monroe Township, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Monroe Township, NJ?

Median rent in Monroe Township is $2,927 a month. A typical firefighter in New Jersey earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 49.9% 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 Monroe Township?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Jersey (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Monroe Township's current median rent is $2,927/mo, which is $1,168/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New Jersey works roughly 86.5 hours a month to cover Monroe Township's median rent of $2,927.

Where is rent cheaper than Monroe Township for a firefighter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Parsippany ($2,925/mo), Morristown ($2,925/mo), Metuchen ($2,924/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 Monroe Township, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.