Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Brown Deer, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.5% of gross income.

Brown Deer rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Brown Deer median rent
$1,618/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
32.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Brown Deer's median rent of $1,618 exceeds that threshold by $126/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 56.4 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Brown Deer, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Madison, WI
$1,616/mo (32.5% of income)
River Falls, WI
$1,613/mo (32.4% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,613/mo (32.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brown Deer

View full rent data for Brown Deer, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Brown Deer, WI?

Median rent in Brown Deer is $1,618 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 32.5% 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 Brown Deer?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Brown Deer's current median rent is $1,618/mo, which is $126/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 56.4 hours a month to cover Brown Deer's median rent of $1,618.

Where is rent cheaper than Brown Deer for a firefighter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Madison ($1,616/mo), River Falls ($1,613/mo), Madison ($1,613/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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