Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.3% of gross income.

Madison Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Madison Heights median rent
$1,351/mo
Firefighter salary (Virginia)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
25.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351 leaves roughly $251/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 43.9 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 Madison Heights, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Hopewell, VA
$1,348/mo (25.2% of income)
Staunton, VA
$1,348/mo (25.2% of income)
Roanoke, VA
$1,345/mo (25.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison Heights

View full rent data for Madison Heights, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Median rent in Madison Heights is $1,351 a month. A typical firefighter in Virginia earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 25.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Madison Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Virginia (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Madison Heights's current median rent is $1,351/mo, which leaves a $251/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Virginia works roughly 43.9 hours a month to cover Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison Heights for a firefighter?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hopewell ($1,348/mo), Staunton ($1,348/mo), Roanoke ($1,345/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 Madison Heights, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.