Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Dayton, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20% of gross income.

Dayton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$815/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
20%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $815 leaves roughly $408/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 34.6 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 Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Dyersburg, TN
$812/mo (19.9% of income)
Dyersburg, TN
$781/mo (19.2% of income)
Dyersburg, TN
$768/mo (18.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Dayton, TN?

Median rent in Dayton is $815 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 20% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $815/mo, which leaves a $408/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 34.6 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $815.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dyersburg ($812/mo), Dyersburg ($781/mo), Dyersburg ($768/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 Dayton, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.