Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Portland, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

Portland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Portland median rent
$1,635/mo
Paramedic salary (Texas)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Portland's median rent of $1,635 exceeds that threshold by $319/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 64.6 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Portland, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hutto, TX
$1,634/mo (37.2% of income)
Hutto, TX
$1,634/mo (37.2% of income)
Allen, TX
$1,634/mo (37.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portland

View full rent data for Portland, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Portland, TX?

Median rent in Portland is $1,635 a month. A typical paramedic in Texas earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% 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 Portland?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Texas (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Portland's current median rent is $1,635/mo, which is $319/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Texas works roughly 64.6 hours a month to cover Portland's median rent of $1,635.

Where is rent cheaper than Portland for a paramedic?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Hutto ($1,634/mo), Hutto ($1,634/mo), Allen ($1,634/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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