Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Happy Valley, OR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.6% of gross income.

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

Happy Valley median rent
$1,871/mo
Paramedic salary (Oregon)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
40.6%
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 $1,871 exceeds that threshold by $488/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 70.4 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 Happy Valley, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Beaverton, OR
$1,870/mo (40.6% of income)
Lincoln City, OR
$1,869/mo (40.6% of income)
Junction City, OR
$1,867/mo (40.5% 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 $1,871 a month. A typical paramedic in Oregon earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 40.6% 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 $1,871/mo, which is $488/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 70.4 hours a month to cover Happy Valley's median rent of $1,871.

Where is rent cheaper than Happy Valley for a paramedic?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Beaverton ($1,870/mo), Lincoln City ($1,869/mo), Junction City ($1,867/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.