Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lawrence, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.3% of gross income.

Lawrence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Lawrence median rent
$1,288/mo
Paramedic salary (Kansas)
$47,862/yr
Rent as % of income
32.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,989, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,197/mo in rent. Lawrence's median rent of $1,288 exceeds that threshold by $91/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 56 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Topeka, KS
$1,283/mo (32.2% of income)
Kansas City, KS
$1,274/mo (31.9% of income)
Leavenworth, KS
$1,273/mo (31.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawrence

View full rent data for Lawrence, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lawrence, KS?

Median rent in Lawrence is $1,288 a month. A typical paramedic in Kansas earns about $47,862 a year, which makes that rent 32.3% 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 Lawrence?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Kansas (~$47,862/yr) supports up to $1,197 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $1,288/mo, which is $91/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Kansas works roughly 56 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $1,288.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a paramedic?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Topeka ($1,283/mo), Kansas City ($1,274/mo), Leavenworth ($1,273/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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