Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in East Highland Park, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.9% of gross income.

East Highland Park rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

East Highland Park median rent
$1,755/mo
Firefighter salary (Virginia)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
32.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. East Highland Park's median rent of $1,755 exceeds that threshold by $153/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 57 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than East Highland Park, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Lakeside, VA
$1,754/mo (32.9% of income)
Suffolk, VA
$1,753/mo (32.8% of income)
Forest, VA
$1,753/mo (32.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Highland Park

View full rent data for East Highland Park, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in East Highland Park, VA?

Median rent in East Highland Park is $1,755 a month. A typical firefighter in Virginia earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 32.9% 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 East Highland Park?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Virginia (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. East Highland Park's current median rent is $1,755/mo, which is $153/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in East Highland Park?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Virginia works roughly 57 hours a month to cover East Highland Park's median rent of $1,755.

Where is rent cheaper than East Highland Park for a firefighter?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Lakeside ($1,754/mo), Suffolk ($1,753/mo), Forest ($1,753/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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