Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Colton, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37% of gross income.

Colton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Colton median rent
$1,936/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
37%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Colton's median rent of $1,936 exceeds that threshold by $367/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 64.2 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 California cities have lower median rent than Colton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Yucca Valley, CA
$1,934/mo (37% of income)
Huntington Park, CA
$1,934/mo (37% of income)
San Bernardino, CA
$1,933/mo (37% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colton

View full rent data for Colton, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Colton, CA?

Median rent in Colton is $1,936 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 37% 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 Colton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Colton's current median rent is $1,936/mo, which is $367/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 64.2 hours a month to cover Colton's median rent of $1,936.

Where is rent cheaper than Colton for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Yucca Valley ($1,934/mo), Huntington Park ($1,934/mo), San Bernardino ($1,933/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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