Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Cottonwood, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.7% of gross income.

Cottonwood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Cottonwood median rent
$1,880/mo
Paramedic salary (Arizona)
$51,585/yr
Rent as % of income
43.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,299, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,290/mo in rent. Cottonwood's median rent of $1,880 exceeds that threshold by $590/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 75.8 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Cottonwood, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

El Mirage, AZ
$1,879/mo (43.7% of income)
El Mirage, AZ
$1,878/mo (43.7% of income)
Peoria, AZ
$1,876/mo (43.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cottonwood

View full rent data for Cottonwood, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Cottonwood, AZ?

Median rent in Cottonwood is $1,880 a month. A typical paramedic in Arizona earns about $51,585 a year, which makes that rent 43.7% 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 Cottonwood?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Arizona (~$51,585/yr) supports up to $1,290 a month in rent. Cottonwood's current median rent is $1,880/mo, which is $590/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Arizona works roughly 75.8 hours a month to cover Cottonwood's median rent of $1,880.

Where is rent cheaper than Cottonwood for a paramedic?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include El Mirage ($1,879/mo), El Mirage ($1,878/mo), Peoria ($1,876/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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