Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Altoona, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.

Altoona rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Altoona median rent
$1,121/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
25.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Altoona's median rent of $1,121 leaves roughly $195/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 44.3 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Altoona, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Turtle Creek, PA
$1,120/mo (25.5% of income)
Bloomsburg, PA
$1,120/mo (25.5% of income)
Pittston, PA
$1,119/mo (25.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Altoona

View full rent data for Altoona, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Altoona, PA?

Median rent in Altoona is $1,121 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Altoona?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Altoona's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $195/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 44.3 hours a month to cover Altoona's median rent of $1,121.

Where is rent cheaper than Altoona for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Turtle Creek ($1,120/mo), Bloomsburg ($1,120/mo), Pittston ($1,119/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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