Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Whitefish Bay, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.1% of gross income.

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

Whitefish Bay median rent
$2,390/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
48.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Whitefish Bay's median rent of $2,390 exceeds that threshold by $898/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 83.3 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 Whitefish Bay, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Brookfield, WI
$2,260/mo (45.4% of income)
Brookfield, WI
$2,257/mo (45.4% of income)
Brookfield, WI
$2,254/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Whitefish Bay

View full rent data for Whitefish Bay, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Whitefish Bay, WI?

Median rent in Whitefish Bay is $2,390 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 48.1% 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 Whitefish Bay?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Whitefish Bay's current median rent is $2,390/mo, which is $898/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 83.3 hours a month to cover Whitefish Bay's median rent of $2,390.

Where is rent cheaper than Whitefish Bay for a firefighter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Brookfield ($2,260/mo), Brookfield ($2,257/mo), Brookfield ($2,254/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 Whitefish Bay, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.