Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Roswell, NM?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.7% of gross income.
Roswell rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).
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 Mexico cities have lower median rent than Roswell, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Roswell
View full rent data for Roswell, NM →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Roswell, NM?
Median rent in Roswell is $1,399 a month. A typical firefighter in New Mexico earns about $56,529 a year, which makes that rent 29.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Roswell?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Mexico (~$56,529/yr) supports up to $1,413 a month in rent. Roswell's current median rent is $1,399/mo, which leaves a $14/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Roswell?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in New Mexico works roughly 51.5 hours a month to cover Roswell's median rent of $1,399.
Where is rent cheaper than Roswell for a firefighter?
Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Hobbs ($1,398/mo), Hobbs ($1,392/mo), Hobbs ($1,391/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.