Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lewiston, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.9% of gross income.

Lewiston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Lewiston median rent
$1,480/mo
Paramedic salary (Maine)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
35.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $244/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 62.2 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bangor, ME
$1,477/mo (35.8% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,460/mo (35.4% of income)
Augusta, ME
$1,458/mo (35.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lewiston, ME?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,480 a month. A typical paramedic in Maine earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 35.9% 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 Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maine (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $244/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Maine works roughly 62.2 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a paramedic?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Bangor ($1,477/mo), Bangor ($1,460/mo), Augusta ($1,458/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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