Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Smithville, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.3% of gross income.

Smithville rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Smithville median rent
$1,400/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
34.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Smithville's median rent of $1,400 exceeds that threshold by $177/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 59.5 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Kingsport, TN
$1,397/mo (34.3% of income)
Bristol, TN
$1,397/mo (34.3% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,391/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smithville

View full rent data for Smithville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Smithville, TN?

Median rent in Smithville is $1,400 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 34.3% 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 Smithville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $1,400/mo, which is $177/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 59.5 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $1,400.

Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Kingsport ($1,397/mo), Bristol ($1,397/mo), Morristown ($1,391/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 Smithville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.