Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Clarksville, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

Clarksville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Clarksville median rent
$1,386/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Clarksville's median rent of $1,386 exceeds that threshold by $163/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.9 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Clarksville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Johnson City, TN
$1,385/mo (34% of income)
Cleveland, TN
$1,385/mo (34% of income)
Red Bank, TN
$1,384/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clarksville

View full rent data for Clarksville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Clarksville, TN?

Median rent in Clarksville is $1,386 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 34% 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 Clarksville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Clarksville's current median rent is $1,386/mo, which is $163/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover Clarksville's median rent of $1,386.

Where is rent cheaper than Clarksville for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,385/mo), Cleveland ($1,385/mo), Red Bank ($1,384/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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