Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.8% of gross income.

Fort Collins rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Fort Collins median rent
$1,943/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
41.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Fort Collins's median rent of $1,943 exceeds that threshold by $547/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 72.4 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Fort Collins, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Littleton, CO
$1,942/mo (41.7% of income)
Lone Tree, CO
$1,940/mo (41.7% of income)
Lone Tree, CO
$1,940/mo (41.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Collins

View full rent data for Fort Collins, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Median rent in Fort Collins is $1,943 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 41.8% 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 Fort Collins?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Fort Collins's current median rent is $1,943/mo, which is $547/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 72.4 hours a month to cover Fort Collins's median rent of $1,943.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Collins for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Littleton ($1,942/mo), Lone Tree ($1,940/mo), Lone Tree ($1,940/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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