Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Norwalk, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

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

Norwalk median rent
$1,189/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Norwalk's median rent of $1,189 leaves roughly $34/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 50.5 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 Norwalk, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Indianola, IA
$1,188/mo (29.1% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,185/mo (29.1% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,182/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Norwalk

View full rent data for Norwalk, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Norwalk, IA?

Median rent in Norwalk is $1,189 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Norwalk?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Iowa (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Norwalk's current median rent is $1,189/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Iowa works roughly 50.5 hours a month to cover Norwalk's median rent of $1,189.

Where is rent cheaper than Norwalk for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Indianola ($1,188/mo), Coralville ($1,185/mo), Coralville ($1,182/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 Norwalk, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.