Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Forest Hill, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.4% of gross income.

Forest Hill rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Forest Hill median rent
$1,781/mo
Firefighter salary (Texas)
$62,182/yr
Rent as % of income
34.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,555/mo in rent. Forest Hill's median rent of $1,781 exceeds that threshold by $226/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 59.6 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Forest Hill, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (34.4% of income)
Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (34.4% of income)
Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (34.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Hill

View full rent data for Forest Hill, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Forest Hill, TX?

Median rent in Forest Hill is $1,781 a month. A typical firefighter in Texas earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 34.4% 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 Forest Hill?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Texas (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. Forest Hill's current median rent is $1,781/mo, which is $226/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Texas works roughly 59.6 hours a month to cover Forest Hill's median rent of $1,781.

Where is rent cheaper than Forest Hill for a firefighter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Leander ($1,780/mo), Leander ($1,780/mo), Leander ($1,780/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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