Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lowell, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.1% of gross income.

Lowell rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Lowell median rent
$2,316/mo
Paramedic salary (Massachusetts)
$61,689/yr
Rent as % of income
45.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,141, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,542/mo in rent. Lowell's median rent of $2,316 exceeds that threshold by $774/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 78.1 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Lowell, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Clinton, MA
$2,313/mo (45% of income)
Northampton, MA
$2,312/mo (45% of income)
Northampton, MA
$2,310/mo (44.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lowell

View full rent data for Lowell, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lowell, MA?

Median rent in Lowell is $2,316 a month. A typical paramedic in Massachusetts earns about $61,689 a year, which makes that rent 45.1% 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 Lowell?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Massachusetts (~$61,689/yr) supports up to $1,542 a month in rent. Lowell's current median rent is $2,316/mo, which is $774/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in Massachusetts works roughly 78.1 hours a month to cover Lowell's median rent of $2,316.

Where is rent cheaper than Lowell for a paramedic?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Clinton ($2,313/mo), Northampton ($2,312/mo), Northampton ($2,310/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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