Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Forest Grove, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.

Forest Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Forest Grove median rent
$1,738/mo
Paramedic salary (Oregon)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
37.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738 exceeds that threshold by $355/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 65.4 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Forest Grove, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Canby, OR
$1,736/mo (37.7% of income)
Albany, OR
$1,736/mo (37.7% of income)
Woodburn, OR
$1,735/mo (37.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Grove

View full rent data for Forest Grove, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Forest Grove, OR?

Median rent in Forest Grove is $1,738 a month. A typical paramedic in Oregon earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Forest Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Oregon (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Forest Grove's current median rent is $1,738/mo, which is $355/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Oregon works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738.

Where is rent cheaper than Forest Grove for a paramedic?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Canby ($1,736/mo), Albany ($1,736/mo), Woodburn ($1,735/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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