Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Mentor, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.3% of gross income.

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

Mentor median rent
$1,588/mo
Firefighter salary (Ohio)
$59,041/yr
Rent as % of income
32.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,920, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Mentor's median rent of $1,588 exceeds that threshold by $112/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 55.9 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 Mentor, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Wooster, OH
$1,587/mo (32.3% of income)
Amelia, OH
$1,586/mo (32.2% of income)
Delaware, OH
$1,585/mo (32.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mentor

View full rent data for Mentor, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Mentor, OH?

Median rent in Mentor is $1,588 a month. A typical firefighter in Ohio earns about $59,041 a year, which makes that rent 32.3% 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 Mentor?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Ohio (~$59,041/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Mentor's current median rent is $1,588/mo, which is $112/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Ohio works roughly 55.9 hours a month to cover Mentor's median rent of $1,588.

Where is rent cheaper than Mentor for a firefighter?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Wooster ($1,587/mo), Amelia ($1,586/mo), Delaware ($1,585/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 Mentor, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.