Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Somerdale, NJ?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.

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

Somerdale median rent
$1,736/mo
Firefighter salary (New Jersey)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
29.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Somerdale's median rent of $1,736 leaves roughly $23/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 51.3 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 Somerdale, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Audubon, NJ
$1,735/mo (29.6% of income)
Edgewater Park Township, NJ
$1,731/mo (29.5% of income)
Bayonne, NJ
$1,731/mo (29.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Somerdale

View full rent data for Somerdale, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Somerdale, NJ?

Median rent in Somerdale is $1,736 a month. A typical firefighter in New Jersey earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Somerdale?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Jersey (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Somerdale's current median rent is $1,736/mo, which leaves a $23/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New Jersey works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Somerdale's median rent of $1,736.

Where is rent cheaper than Somerdale for a firefighter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Audubon ($1,735/mo), Edgewater Park Township ($1,731/mo), Bayonne ($1,731/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 Somerdale, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.