Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.

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

Marshalltown median rent
$930/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
22.8%
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 $930 leaves roughly $293/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 39.5 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:

Davenport, IA
$927/mo (22.7% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$925/mo (22.7% of income)
Davenport, IA
$923/mo (22.6% 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 $930 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% 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 $930/mo, which leaves a $293/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 39.5 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $930.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Davenport ($927/mo), Des Moines ($925/mo), Davenport ($923/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.