Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Molalla, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.2% of gross income.

Molalla rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Molalla median rent
$1,859/mo
Firefighter salary (Oregon)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
34.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. Molalla's median rent of $1,859 exceeds that threshold by $226/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 59.2 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 Molalla, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Gladstone, OR
$1,858/mo (34.1% of income)
Hillsboro, OR
$1,858/mo (34.1% of income)
Saint Helens, OR
$1,858/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Molalla

View full rent data for Molalla, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Molalla, OR?

Median rent in Molalla is $1,859 a month. A typical firefighter in Oregon earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 34.2% 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 Molalla?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Oregon (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. Molalla's current median rent is $1,859/mo, which is $226/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Oregon works roughly 59.2 hours a month to cover Molalla's median rent of $1,859.

Where is rent cheaper than Molalla for a firefighter?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Gladstone ($1,858/mo), Hillsboro ($1,858/mo), Saint Helens ($1,858/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 Molalla, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.