Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Wheat Ridge, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.

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

Wheat Ridge median rent
$1,952/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
41.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Wheat Ridge's median rent of $1,952 exceeds that threshold by $556/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 72.7 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 Wheat Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Fort Collins, CO
$1,951/mo (41.9% of income)
Highlands Ranch, CO
$1,951/mo (41.9% of income)
Lone Tree, CO
$1,950/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wheat Ridge

View full rent data for Wheat Ridge, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Wheat Ridge, CO?

Median rent in Wheat Ridge is $1,952 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% 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 Wheat Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Wheat Ridge's current median rent is $1,952/mo, which is $556/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 72.7 hours a month to cover Wheat Ridge's median rent of $1,952.

Where is rent cheaper than Wheat Ridge for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Fort Collins ($1,951/mo), Highlands Ranch ($1,951/mo), Lone Tree ($1,950/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 Wheat Ridge, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.