Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Burlington, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.3% of gross income.

Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$1,990/mo
Paramedic salary (Vermont)
$51,585/yr
Rent as % of income
46.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,299, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,290/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $1,990 exceeds that threshold by $700/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 80.2 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 Vermont cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hartford, VT
$1,954/mo (45.5% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,902/mo (44.2% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,895/mo (44.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Burlington, VT?

Median rent in Burlington is $1,990 a month. A typical paramedic in Vermont earns about $51,585 a year, which makes that rent 46.3% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Vermont (~$51,585/yr) supports up to $1,290 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $1,990/mo, which is $700/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Vermont works roughly 80.2 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $1,990.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a paramedic?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include Hartford ($1,954/mo), Hartford ($1,902/mo), Hartford ($1,895/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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