Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fountain Valley, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.6% of gross income.

Fountain Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Fountain Valley median rent
$2,698/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
51.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Fountain Valley's median rent of $2,698 exceeds that threshold by $1,129/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 89.4 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 Fountain Valley, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Fallbrook, CA
$2,697/mo (51.6% of income)
Lafayette, CA
$2,697/mo (51.6% of income)
Azusa, CA
$2,697/mo (51.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fountain Valley

View full rent data for Fountain Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fountain Valley, CA?

Median rent in Fountain Valley is $2,698 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 51.6% 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 Fountain Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Fountain Valley's current median rent is $2,698/mo, which is $1,129/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 89.4 hours a month to cover Fountain Valley's median rent of $2,698.

Where is rent cheaper than Fountain Valley for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Fallbrook ($2,697/mo), Lafayette ($2,697/mo), Azusa ($2,697/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 Fountain Valley, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.