Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Charlottesville, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.7% of gross income.

Charlottesville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Charlottesville median rent
$2,021/mo
Paramedic salary (Virginia)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
44.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Charlottesville's median rent of $2,021 exceeds that threshold by $665/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 77.5 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Charlottesville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Stephens City, VA
$2,015/mo (44.6% of income)
Fredericksburg, VA
$2,015/mo (44.6% of income)
Virginia Beach, VA
$2,010/mo (44.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charlottesville

View full rent data for Charlottesville, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Charlottesville, VA?

Median rent in Charlottesville is $2,021 a month. A typical paramedic in Virginia earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 44.7% 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 Charlottesville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Virginia (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Charlottesville's current median rent is $2,021/mo, which is $665/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Virginia works roughly 77.5 hours a month to cover Charlottesville's median rent of $2,021.

Where is rent cheaper than Charlottesville for a paramedic?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Stephens City ($2,015/mo), Fredericksburg ($2,015/mo), Virginia Beach ($2,010/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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