Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Silver City, NM?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.7% of gross income.
Silver City 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 Silver City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Silver City
View full rent data for Silver City, NM →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Silver City, NM?
Median rent in Silver City is $1,350 a month. A typical firefighter in New Mexico earns about $56,529 a year, which makes that rent 28.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Silver City?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Mexico (~$56,529/yr) supports up to $1,413 a month in rent. Silver City's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which leaves a $63/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Silver City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in New Mexico works roughly 49.7 hours a month to cover Silver City's median rent of $1,350.
Where is rent cheaper than Silver City for a firefighter?
Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Hobbs ($1,349/mo), Hobbs ($1,347/mo), Las Cruces ($1,346/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.