Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Winchester, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.1% of gross income.

Winchester rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Winchester median rent
$1,768/mo
Paramedic salary (Virginia)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
39.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Winchester's median rent of $1,768 exceeds that threshold by $412/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 67.8 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 Winchester, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Blacksburg, VA
$1,765/mo (39% of income)
Colonial Heights, VA
$1,764/mo (39% of income)
Colonial Heights, VA
$1,761/mo (39% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Winchester

View full rent data for Winchester, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Winchester, VA?

Median rent in Winchester is $1,768 a month. A typical paramedic in Virginia earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 39.1% 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 Winchester?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Virginia (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Winchester's current median rent is $1,768/mo, which is $412/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Virginia works roughly 67.8 hours a month to cover Winchester's median rent of $1,768.

Where is rent cheaper than Winchester for a paramedic?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Blacksburg ($1,765/mo), Colonial Heights ($1,764/mo), Colonial Heights ($1,761/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 Winchester, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.