Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.

Marshalltown rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Marshalltown median rent
$1,024/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
25.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Marshalltown's median rent of $1,024 leaves roughly $199/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 43.5 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Marshalltown, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (25.1% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (25.1% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marshalltown

View full rent data for Marshalltown, IA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Median rent in Marshalltown is $1,024 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Marshalltown?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Iowa (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Marshalltown's current median rent is $1,024/mo, which leaves a $199/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Iowa works roughly 43.5 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $1,024.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Urbandale ($1,023/mo), Urbandale ($1,023/mo), Urbandale ($1,023/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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