Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Sweet Home, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.4% of gross income.

Sweet Home rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Sweet Home median rent
$1,598/mo
Firefighter salary (Oregon)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
29.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. Sweet Home's median rent of $1,598 leaves roughly $35/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 50.9 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Sweet Home, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Monmouth, OR
$1,597/mo (29.3% of income)
Salem, OR
$1,595/mo (29.3% of income)
West Slope, OR
$1,595/mo (29.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sweet Home

View full rent data for Sweet Home, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Sweet Home, OR?

Median rent in Sweet Home is $1,598 a month. A typical firefighter in Oregon earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 29.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Sweet Home?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Oregon (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. Sweet Home's current median rent is $1,598/mo, which leaves a $35/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Oregon works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover Sweet Home's median rent of $1,598.

Where is rent cheaper than Sweet Home for a firefighter?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Monmouth ($1,597/mo), Salem ($1,595/mo), West Slope ($1,595/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 Sweet Home, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.