Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Collingdale, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.5% of gross income.

Collingdale rent: March 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Collingdale median rent
$1,321/mo
Firefighter salary (Pennsylvania)
$62,182/yr
Rent as % of income
25.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,555/mo in rent. Collingdale's median rent of $1,321 leaves roughly $234/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 44.2 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Collingdale, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Ephrata, PA
$1,320/mo (25.5% of income)
Irwin, PA
$1,320/mo (25.5% of income)
Middletown, PA
$1,320/mo (25.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Collingdale

View full rent data for Collingdale, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Collingdale, PA?

Median rent in Collingdale is $1,321 a month. A typical firefighter in Pennsylvania earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 25.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Collingdale?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Pennsylvania (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. Collingdale's current median rent is $1,321/mo, which leaves a $234/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Pennsylvania works roughly 44.2 hours a month to cover Collingdale's median rent of $1,321.

Where is rent cheaper than Collingdale for a firefighter?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Ephrata ($1,320/mo), Irwin ($1,320/mo), Middletown ($1,320/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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