Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.4% of gross income.

Wilmington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Wilmington median rent
$1,872/mo
Paramedic salary (Delaware)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
41.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $1,872 exceeds that threshold by $516/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 71.8 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

New Castle, DE
$1,747/mo (38.6% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,726/mo (38.2% of income)
Dover, DE
$1,726/mo (38.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

View full rent data for Wilmington, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Wilmington, DE?

Median rent in Wilmington is $1,872 a month. A typical paramedic in Delaware earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 41.4% 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 Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Delaware (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $516/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Delaware works roughly 71.8 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,872.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a paramedic?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include New Castle ($1,747/mo), New Castle ($1,726/mo), Dover ($1,726/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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