Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Portsmouth, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64% of gross income.

Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Portsmouth median rent
$2,920/mo
Paramedic salary (New Hampshire)
$54,775/yr
Rent as % of income
64%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,369/mo in rent. Portsmouth's median rent of $2,920 exceeds that threshold by $1,551/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 110.9 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bedford, NH
$2,908/mo (63.7% of income)
Bedford, NH
$2,899/mo (63.5% of income)
Salem, NH
$2,895/mo (63.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth

View full rent data for Portsmouth, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Portsmouth, NH?

Median rent in Portsmouth is $2,920 a month. A typical paramedic in New Hampshire earns about $54,775 a year, which makes that rent 64% 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 Portsmouth?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Hampshire (~$54,775/yr) supports up to $1,369 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $2,920/mo, which is $1,551/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in New Hampshire works roughly 110.9 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $2,920.

Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a paramedic?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($2,908/mo), Bedford ($2,899/mo), Salem ($2,895/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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