Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lebanon, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.4% of gross income.

Lebanon rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Lebanon median rent
$1,704/mo
Firefighter salary (Tennessee)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
35.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Lebanon's median rent of $1,704 exceeds that threshold by $259/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 61.3 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Lebanon, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Knoxville, TN
$1,703/mo (35.4% of income)
Clinton, TN
$1,703/mo (35.4% of income)
Hixson, TN
$1,703/mo (35.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lebanon

View full rent data for Lebanon, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lebanon, TN?

Median rent in Lebanon is $1,704 a month. A typical firefighter in Tennessee earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 35.4% 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 Lebanon?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Tennessee (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Lebanon's current median rent is $1,704/mo, which is $259/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Tennessee works roughly 61.3 hours a month to cover Lebanon's median rent of $1,704.

Where is rent cheaper than Lebanon for a firefighter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($1,703/mo), Clinton ($1,703/mo), Hixson ($1,703/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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