Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Chatham, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.9% of gross income.

Chatham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Chatham median rent
$3,272/mo
Paramedic salary (New Jersey)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
65.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Chatham's median rent of $3,272 exceeds that threshold by $1,783/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 114.3 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 Jersey cities have lower median rent than Chatham, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Highlands, NJ
$3,267/mo (65.8% of income)
Morganville, NJ
$3,262/mo (65.7% of income)
Teaneck, NJ
$3,260/mo (65.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chatham

View full rent data for Chatham, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Chatham, NJ?

Median rent in Chatham is $3,272 a month. A typical paramedic in New Jersey earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 65.9% 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 Chatham?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Jersey (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Chatham's current median rent is $3,272/mo, which is $1,783/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in New Jersey works roughly 114.3 hours a month to cover Chatham's median rent of $3,272.

Where is rent cheaper than Chatham for a paramedic?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Highlands ($3,267/mo), Morganville ($3,262/mo), Teaneck ($3,260/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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