Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Dayton, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.9% of gross income.
Dayton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dayton
View full rent data for Dayton, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Dayton, TN?
Median rent in Dayton is $815 a month. A typical firefighter in Tennessee earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 16.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Dayton?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Tennessee (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $815/mo, which leaves a $630/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Dayton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Tennessee works roughly 29.3 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $815.
Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a firefighter?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dyersburg ($812/mo), Dyersburg ($781/mo), Dyersburg ($768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.