Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Appleton, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.4% of gross income.

Appleton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Appleton median rent
$1,195/mo
Paramedic salary (Wisconsin)
$50,521/yr
Rent as % of income
28.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,210, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Appleton's median rent of $1,195 leaves roughly $68/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 49.2 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Appleton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Menasha, WI
$1,194/mo (28.4% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,194/mo (28.4% of income)
Shorewood, WI
$1,193/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Appleton

View full rent data for Appleton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Appleton, WI?

Median rent in Appleton is $1,195 a month. A typical paramedic in Wisconsin earns about $50,521 a year, which makes that rent 28.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Appleton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Wisconsin (~$50,521/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Appleton's current median rent is $1,195/mo, which leaves a $68/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Wisconsin works roughly 49.2 hours a month to cover Appleton's median rent of $1,195.

Where is rent cheaper than Appleton for a paramedic?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Menasha ($1,194/mo), Menasha ($1,194/mo), Shorewood ($1,193/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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