Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Salem, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.8% of gross income.

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

Salem median rent
$2,591/mo
Paramedic salary (New Hampshire)
$54,775/yr
Rent as % of income
56.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,369/mo in rent. Salem's median rent of $2,591 exceeds that threshold by $1,222/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 98.4 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Portsmouth, NH
$2,590/mo (56.7% of income)
Portsmouth, NH
$2,590/mo (56.7% of income)
Portsmouth, NH
$2,585/mo (56.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Salem

View full rent data for Salem, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Salem, NH?

Median rent in Salem is $2,591 a month. A typical paramedic in New Hampshire earns about $54,775 a year, which makes that rent 56.8% 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 Salem?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Hampshire (~$54,775/yr) supports up to $1,369 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $2,591/mo, which is $1,222/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in New Hampshire works roughly 98.4 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $2,591.

Where is rent cheaper than Salem for a paramedic?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Portsmouth ($2,590/mo), Portsmouth ($2,590/mo), Portsmouth ($2,585/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 Salem, NH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.