Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Cottonwood, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.1% of gross income.

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

Cottonwood median rent
$1,940/mo
Paramedic salary (Arizona)
$51,585/yr
Rent as % of income
45.1%
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 $1,940 exceeds that threshold by $650/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 78.2 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Cottonwood, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Vail, AZ
$1,937/mo (45.1% of income)
Surprise, AZ
$1,935/mo (45% of income)
Sahuarita, AZ
$1,935/mo (45% 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 $1,940 a month. A typical paramedic in Arizona earns about $51,585 a year, which makes that rent 45.1% 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 $1,940/mo, which is $650/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 78.2 hours a month to cover Cottonwood's median rent of $1,940.

Where is rent cheaper than Cottonwood for a paramedic?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Vail ($1,937/mo), Surprise ($1,935/mo), Sahuarita ($1,935/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.