Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Charles Town, WV?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.5% of gross income.

Charles Town rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Charles Town median rent
$1,976/mo
Paramedic salary (West Virginia)
$45,203/yr
Rent as % of income
52.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,767, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,130/mo in rent. Charles Town's median rent of $1,976 exceeds that threshold by $846/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 90.9 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 West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Charles Town, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Falling Waters, WV
$1,913/mo (50.8% of income)
Falling Waters, WV
$1,911/mo (50.7% of income)
Falling Waters, WV
$1,892/mo (50.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charles Town

View full rent data for Charles Town, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Charles Town, WV?

Median rent in Charles Town is $1,976 a month. A typical paramedic in West Virginia earns about $45,203 a year, which makes that rent 52.5% 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 Charles Town?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in West Virginia (~$45,203/yr) supports up to $1,130 a month in rent. Charles Town's current median rent is $1,976/mo, which is $846/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in West Virginia works roughly 90.9 hours a month to cover Charles Town's median rent of $1,976.

Where is rent cheaper than Charles Town for a paramedic?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Falling Waters ($1,913/mo), Falling Waters ($1,911/mo), Falling Waters ($1,892/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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