Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Carolina Beach, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.6% of gross income.

Carolina Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Carolina Beach median rent
$2,691/mo
Paramedic salary (North Carolina)
$49,989/yr
Rent as % of income
64.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,250/mo in rent. Carolina Beach's median rent of $2,691 exceeds that threshold by $1,441/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 112 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Carolina Beach, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Kill Devil Hills, NC
$2,499/mo (60% of income)
Harrisburg, NC
$2,463/mo (59.1% of income)
Harrisburg, NC
$2,460/mo (59.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carolina Beach

View full rent data for Carolina Beach, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Carolina Beach, NC?

Median rent in Carolina Beach is $2,691 a month. A typical paramedic in North Carolina earns about $49,989 a year, which makes that rent 64.6% 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 Carolina Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in North Carolina (~$49,989/yr) supports up to $1,250 a month in rent. Carolina Beach's current median rent is $2,691/mo, which is $1,441/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in North Carolina works roughly 112 hours a month to cover Carolina Beach's median rent of $2,691.

Where is rent cheaper than Carolina Beach for a paramedic?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Kill Devil Hills ($2,499/mo), Harrisburg ($2,463/mo), Harrisburg ($2,460/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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