Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Lakeside, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.7% of gross income.

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

Lakeside median rent
$2,247/mo
Paramedic salary (Virginia)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
49.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Lakeside's median rent of $2,247 exceeds that threshold by $891/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 86.2 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 Lakeside, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Alexandria, VA
$2,246/mo (49.7% of income)
Stafford, VA
$2,245/mo (49.7% of income)
Mount Vernon, VA
$2,241/mo (49.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakeside

View full rent data for Lakeside, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Lakeside, VA?

Median rent in Lakeside is $2,247 a month. A typical paramedic in Virginia earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 49.7% 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 Lakeside?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Virginia (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Lakeside's current median rent is $2,247/mo, which is $891/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Virginia works roughly 86.2 hours a month to cover Lakeside's median rent of $2,247.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakeside for a paramedic?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Alexandria ($2,246/mo), Stafford ($2,245/mo), Mount Vernon ($2,241/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 Lakeside, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.