Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.9% of gross income.

Highlands Ranch rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Highlands Ranch median rent
$2,650/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
56.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650 exceeds that threshold by $1,254/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 98.7 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 Highlands Ranch, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (56.8% of income)
Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (56.8% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,634/mo (56.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highlands Ranch

View full rent data for Highlands Ranch, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Median rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,650 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 56.9% 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 Highlands Ranch?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Highlands Ranch's current median rent is $2,650/mo, which is $1,254/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 98.7 hours a month to cover Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650.

Where is rent cheaper than Highlands Ranch for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Louisville ($2,634/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 Highlands Ranch, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.