Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Athens, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Athens median rent
$1,069/mo
Paramedic salary (Ohio)
$49,989/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,250/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,069 leaves roughly $181/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 44.5 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Lorain, OH
$1,068/mo (25.6% of income)
Lima, OH
$1,066/mo (25.6% of income)
Reading, OH
$1,064/mo (25.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Athens, OH?

Median rent in Athens is $1,069 a month. A typical paramedic in Ohio earns about $49,989 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Ohio (~$49,989/yr) supports up to $1,250 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,069/mo, which leaves a $181/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Ohio works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,069.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a paramedic?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Lorain ($1,068/mo), Lima ($1,066/mo), Reading ($1,064/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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