Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in La Grande, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

La Grande rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

La Grande median rent
$1,359/mo
Firefighter salary (Oregon)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. La Grande's median rent of $1,359 leaves roughly $274/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 43.3 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than La Grande, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Tualatin, OR
$1,356/mo (24.9% of income)
Monmouth, OR
$1,355/mo (24.9% of income)
Monmouth, OR
$1,350/mo (24.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Grande

View full rent data for La Grande, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in La Grande, OR?

Median rent in La Grande is $1,359 a month. A typical firefighter in Oregon earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in La Grande?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Oregon (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. La Grande's current median rent is $1,359/mo, which leaves a $274/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Oregon works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover La Grande's median rent of $1,359.

Where is rent cheaper than La Grande for a firefighter?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Tualatin ($1,356/mo), Monmouth ($1,355/mo), Monmouth ($1,350/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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