Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Benton, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.9% of gross income.

Benton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Benton median rent
$1,469/mo
Paramedic salary (Arkansas)
$44,139/yr
Rent as % of income
39.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,678, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,103/mo in rent. Benton's median rent of $1,469 exceeds that threshold by $366/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 69.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Benton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Prairie Grove, AR
$1,466/mo (39.9% of income)
Sherwood, AR
$1,466/mo (39.9% of income)
Cabot, AR
$1,465/mo (39.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Benton

View full rent data for Benton, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Benton, AR?

Median rent in Benton is $1,469 a month. A typical paramedic in Arkansas earns about $44,139 a year, which makes that rent 39.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Benton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Arkansas (~$44,139/yr) supports up to $1,103 a month in rent. Benton's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which is $366/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Benton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a paramedic in Arkansas works roughly 69.2 hours a month to cover Benton's median rent of $1,469.

Where is rent cheaper than Benton for a paramedic?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Prairie Grove ($1,466/mo), Sherwood ($1,466/mo), Cabot ($1,465/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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