Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Pottstown, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.

Pottstown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Pottstown median rent
$1,954/mo
Firefighter salary (Pennsylvania)
$62,182/yr
Rent as % of income
37.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,555/mo in rent. Pottstown's median rent of $1,954 exceeds that threshold by $399/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 65.4 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 Pottstown, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Breinigsville, PA
$1,953/mo (37.7% of income)
Royersford, PA
$1,950/mo (37.6% of income)
Lansdale, PA
$1,950/mo (37.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pottstown

View full rent data for Pottstown, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Pottstown, PA?

Median rent in Pottstown is $1,954 a month. A typical firefighter in Pennsylvania earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Pottstown?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Pennsylvania (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. Pottstown's current median rent is $1,954/mo, which is $399/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Pennsylvania works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Pottstown's median rent of $1,954.

Where is rent cheaper than Pottstown for a firefighter?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Breinigsville ($1,953/mo), Royersford ($1,950/mo), Lansdale ($1,950/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 Pottstown, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.