Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 121.3% of gross income.

Great Falls rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Great Falls median rent
$5,481/mo
Paramedic salary (Virginia)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
121.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $5,481 exceeds that threshold by $4,125/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 210.2 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 Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Fort Hunt, VA
$4,549/mo (100.6% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,375/mo (96.8% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,274/mo (94.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Great Falls, VA?

Median rent in Great Falls is $5,481 a month. A typical paramedic in Virginia earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 121.3% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Virginia (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,481/mo, which is $4,125/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Virginia works roughly 210.2 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,481.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a paramedic?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,274/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 Great Falls, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.