Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Hershey, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

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

Hershey median rent
$1,742/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Hershey's median rent of $1,742 exceeds that threshold by $426/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68.8 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 Hershey, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hatfield, PA
$1,741/mo (39.7% of income)
Hatfield, PA
$1,739/mo (39.6% of income)
Souderton, PA
$1,739/mo (39.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hershey

View full rent data for Hershey, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Hershey, PA?

Median rent in Hershey is $1,742 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Hershey?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Hershey's current median rent is $1,742/mo, which is $426/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 68.8 hours a month to cover Hershey's median rent of $1,742.

Where is rent cheaper than Hershey for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Hatfield ($1,741/mo), Hatfield ($1,739/mo), Souderton ($1,739/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 Hershey, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.