Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fruita, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.7% of gross income.

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

Fruita median rent
$1,800/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
38.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Fruita's median rent of $1,800 exceeds that threshold by $404/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 67 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 Fruita, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Grand Junction, CO
$1,799/mo (38.7% of income)
Westminster, CO
$1,799/mo (38.7% of income)
Stratmoor, CO
$1,798/mo (38.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fruita

View full rent data for Fruita, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fruita, CO?

Median rent in Fruita is $1,800 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 38.7% 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 Fruita?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Fruita's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $404/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 67 hours a month to cover Fruita's median rent of $1,800.

Where is rent cheaper than Fruita for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Grand Junction ($1,799/mo), Westminster ($1,799/mo), Stratmoor ($1,798/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 Fruita, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.