Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Happy Valley, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.8% of gross income.

Happy Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Happy Valley median rent
$1,833/mo
Paramedic salary (Oregon)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
39.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Happy Valley's median rent of $1,833 exceeds that threshold by $450/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68.9 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 Happy Valley, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Canby, OR
$1,832/mo (39.7% of income)
Independence, OR
$1,832/mo (39.7% of income)
Molalla, OR
$1,831/mo (39.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Happy Valley

View full rent data for Happy Valley, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Happy Valley, OR?

Median rent in Happy Valley is $1,833 a month. A typical paramedic in Oregon earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 39.8% 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 Happy Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Oregon (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Happy Valley's current median rent is $1,833/mo, which is $450/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Oregon works roughly 68.9 hours a month to cover Happy Valley's median rent of $1,833.

Where is rent cheaper than Happy Valley for a paramedic?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Canby ($1,832/mo), Independence ($1,832/mo), Molalla ($1,831/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 Happy Valley, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.