Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Takoma Park, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

Takoma Park rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Takoma Park median rent
$1,597/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Takoma Park's median rent of $1,597 exceeds that threshold by $161/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 57.8 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Takoma Park, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

District Heights, MD
$1,596/mo (33.3% of income)
Fruitland, MD
$1,595/mo (33.3% of income)
Edgewood, MD
$1,593/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Takoma Park

View full rent data for Takoma Park, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Takoma Park, MD?

Median rent in Takoma Park is $1,597 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% 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 Takoma Park?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Takoma Park's current median rent is $1,597/mo, which is $161/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 57.8 hours a month to cover Takoma Park's median rent of $1,597.

Where is rent cheaper than Takoma Park for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include District Heights ($1,596/mo), Fruitland ($1,595/mo), Edgewood ($1,593/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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