Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in West Fargo, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.4% of gross income.

West Fargo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

West Fargo median rent
$1,350/mo
Paramedic salary (North Dakota)
$51,585/yr
Rent as % of income
31.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,299, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,290/mo in rent. West Fargo's median rent of $1,350 exceeds that threshold by $60/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 54.4 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than West Fargo, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bismarck, ND
$1,349/mo (31.4% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,340/mo (31.2% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,332/mo (31% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Fargo

View full rent data for West Fargo, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in West Fargo, ND?

Median rent in West Fargo is $1,350 a month. A typical paramedic in North Dakota earns about $51,585 a year, which makes that rent 31.4% 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 West Fargo?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in North Dakota (~$51,585/yr) supports up to $1,290 a month in rent. West Fargo's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which is $60/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in North Dakota works roughly 54.4 hours a month to cover West Fargo's median rent of $1,350.

Where is rent cheaper than West Fargo for a paramedic?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Bismarck ($1,349/mo), Bismarck ($1,340/mo), Bismarck ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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