Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.4% of gross income.

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

Scarborough median rent
$2,694/mo
Paramedic salary (Maine)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
65.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Scarborough's median rent of $2,694 exceeds that threshold by $1,458/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 113.3 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 Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Kittery, ME
$2,683/mo (65.1% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,661/mo (64.6% of income)
Gorham, ME
$2,650/mo (64.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scarborough

View full rent data for Scarborough, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Scarborough, ME?

Median rent in Scarborough is $2,694 a month. A typical paramedic in Maine earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 65.4% 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 Scarborough?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maine (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,694/mo, which is $1,458/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Maine works roughly 113.3 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,694.

Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for a paramedic?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Kittery ($2,683/mo), Kittery ($2,661/mo), Gorham ($2,650/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 Scarborough, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.