Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lakewood, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.2% of gross income.

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

Lakewood median rent
$1,466/mo
Paramedic salary (Ohio)
$49,989/yr
Rent as % of income
35.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,250/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $1,466 exceeds that threshold by $216/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 61 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 Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Gahanna, OH
$1,465/mo (35.2% of income)
Maple Heights, OH
$1,465/mo (35.2% of income)
Lewis Center, OH
$1,465/mo (35.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lakewood, OH?

Median rent in Lakewood is $1,466 a month. A typical paramedic in Ohio earns about $49,989 a year, which makes that rent 35.2% 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 Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Ohio (~$49,989/yr) supports up to $1,250 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $1,466/mo, which is $216/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Ohio works roughly 61 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $1,466.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a paramedic?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Gahanna ($1,465/mo), Maple Heights ($1,465/mo), Lewis Center ($1,465/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 Lakewood, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.