Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Darby, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.

Darby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Darby median rent
$1,594/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
36.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Darby's median rent of $1,594 exceeds that threshold by $278/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 63 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 Darby, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Carlisle, PA
$1,593/mo (36.3% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (36.3% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (36.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Darby

View full rent data for Darby, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Darby, PA?

Median rent in Darby is $1,594 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Darby?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Darby's current median rent is $1,594/mo, which is $278/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 63 hours a month to cover Darby's median rent of $1,594.

Where is rent cheaper than Darby for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Carlisle ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/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 Darby, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.