Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Waterville, ME?

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

Waterville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Waterville median rent
$1,377/mo
Paramedic salary (Maine)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Waterville's median rent of $1,377 exceeds that threshold by $141/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 57.9 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 Waterville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Lewiston, ME
$1,375/mo (33.4% of income)
Augusta, ME
$1,363/mo (33.1% of income)
Augusta, ME
$1,346/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waterville

View full rent data for Waterville, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Waterville, ME?

Median rent in Waterville is $1,377 a month. A typical paramedic in Maine earns about $49,457 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 Waterville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maine (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Waterville's current median rent is $1,377/mo, which is $141/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Maine works roughly 57.9 hours a month to cover Waterville's median rent of $1,377.

Where is rent cheaper than Waterville for a paramedic?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Lewiston ($1,375/mo), Augusta ($1,363/mo), Augusta ($1,346/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 Waterville, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.