Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.

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

Southern Pines median rent
$1,770/mo
Paramedic salary (North Carolina)
$49,989/yr
Rent as % of income
42.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,250/mo in rent. Southern Pines's median rent of $1,770 exceeds that threshold by $520/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 73.6 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 Southern Pines, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Garner, NC
$1,769/mo (42.5% of income)
Carthage, NC
$1,768/mo (42.4% of income)
Denver, NC
$1,768/mo (42.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southern Pines

View full rent data for Southern Pines, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Median rent in Southern Pines is $1,770 a month. A typical paramedic in North Carolina earns about $49,989 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 Southern Pines?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in North Carolina (~$49,989/yr) supports up to $1,250 a month in rent. Southern Pines's current median rent is $1,770/mo, which is $520/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in North Carolina works roughly 73.6 hours a month to cover Southern Pines's median rent of $1,770.

Where is rent cheaper than Southern Pines for a paramedic?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Garner ($1,769/mo), Carthage ($1,768/mo), Denver ($1,768/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 Southern Pines, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.