Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Elm Grove, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 77.9% of gross income.

Elm Grove rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Elm Grove median rent
$3,281/mo
Paramedic salary (Wisconsin)
$50,521/yr
Rent as % of income
77.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,210, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Elm Grove's median rent of $3,281 exceeds that threshold by $2,018/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 135.1 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 Elm Grove, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Whitefish Bay, WI
$2,819/mo (67% of income)
Whitefish Bay, WI
$2,562/mo (60.9% of income)
Whitefish Bay, WI
$2,513/mo (59.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elm Grove

View full rent data for Elm Grove, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Elm Grove, WI?

Median rent in Elm Grove is $3,281 a month. A typical paramedic in Wisconsin earns about $50,521 a year, which makes that rent 77.9% 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 Elm Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Wisconsin (~$50,521/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Elm Grove's current median rent is $3,281/mo, which is $2,018/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Wisconsin works roughly 135.1 hours a month to cover Elm Grove's median rent of $3,281.

Where is rent cheaper than Elm Grove for a paramedic?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Whitefish Bay ($2,819/mo), Whitefish Bay ($2,562/mo), Whitefish Bay ($2,513/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 Elm Grove, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.