Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Elmwood, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.8% of gross income.

Elmwood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Elmwood median rent
$1,651/mo
Paramedic salary (Louisiana)
$46,267/yr
Rent as % of income
42.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Elmwood's median rent of $1,651 exceeds that threshold by $494/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 74.2 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Elmwood, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Metairie, LA
$1,650/mo (42.8% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,642/mo (42.6% of income)
Zachary, LA
$1,641/mo (42.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elmwood

View full rent data for Elmwood, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Elmwood, LA?

Median rent in Elmwood is $1,651 a month. A typical paramedic in Louisiana earns about $46,267 a year, which makes that rent 42.8% 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 Elmwood?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Louisiana (~$46,267/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Elmwood's current median rent is $1,651/mo, which is $494/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Louisiana works roughly 74.2 hours a month to cover Elmwood's median rent of $1,651.

Where is rent cheaper than Elmwood for a paramedic?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Metairie ($1,650/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,642/mo), Zachary ($1,641/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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