Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bowling Green, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.

Bowling Green rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Bowling Green median rent
$1,049/mo
Firefighter salary (Ohio)
$59,041/yr
Rent as % of income
21.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,920, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Bowling Green's median rent of $1,049 leaves roughly $427/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 37 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Bowling Green, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Cuyahoga Falls, OH
$1,048/mo (21.3% of income)
Elyria, OH
$1,047/mo (21.3% of income)
Vandalia, OH
$1,046/mo (21.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bowling Green

View full rent data for Bowling Green, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bowling Green, OH?

Median rent in Bowling Green is $1,049 a month. A typical firefighter in Ohio earns about $59,041 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Bowling Green?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Ohio (~$59,041/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Bowling Green's current median rent is $1,049/mo, which leaves a $427/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Ohio works roughly 37 hours a month to cover Bowling Green's median rent of $1,049.

Where is rent cheaper than Bowling Green for a firefighter?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Cuyahoga Falls ($1,048/mo), Elyria ($1,047/mo), Vandalia ($1,046/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Ohio state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bowling Green, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.