Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Thornton, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41% of gross income.

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

Thornton median rent
$1,910/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
41%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Thornton's median rent of $1,910 exceeds that threshold by $514/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 71.1 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 Thornton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Eagle, CO
$1,909/mo (41% of income)
Greenwood Village, CO
$1,909/mo (41% of income)
Littleton, CO
$1,907/mo (41% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Thornton

View full rent data for Thornton, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Thornton, CO?

Median rent in Thornton is $1,910 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 41% 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 Thornton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Thornton's current median rent is $1,910/mo, which is $514/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 71.1 hours a month to cover Thornton's median rent of $1,910.

Where is rent cheaper than Thornton for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($1,909/mo), Greenwood Village ($1,909/mo), Littleton ($1,907/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 Thornton, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.