Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Kaukauna, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.

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

Kaukauna median rent
$1,116/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
22.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Kaukauna's median rent of $1,116 leaves roughly $376/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 38.9 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Kaukauna, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Fond du Lac, WI
$1,115/mo (22.4% of income)
Appleton, WI
$1,114/mo (22.4% of income)
Oshkosh, WI
$1,114/mo (22.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kaukauna

View full rent data for Kaukauna, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Kaukauna, WI?

Median rent in Kaukauna is $1,116 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Kaukauna?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Kaukauna's current median rent is $1,116/mo, which leaves a $376/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 38.9 hours a month to cover Kaukauna's median rent of $1,116.

Where is rent cheaper than Kaukauna for a firefighter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Fond du Lac ($1,115/mo), Appleton ($1,114/mo), Oshkosh ($1,114/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 Kaukauna, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.