25 Best Cities for Firefighters in 2026
Firefighters are among the most respected public servants, and the best cities for them offer competitive pay relative to housing costs, stable employment, and strong department resources. Affordability is the primary scoring factor since firefighter salaries vary widely but are set by local government budgets rather than market forces.
Methodology
Scoring weights: rent-to-income ratio (40%, inverted), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (20%, inverted), median income (15%).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Property Crime
1941/100k
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Property Crime
1217/100k
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Violent Crime
210/100k
Property Crime
1794/100k
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Violent Crime
102/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Violent Crime
350/100k
Property Crime
1618/100k
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Property Crime
1941/100k
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Property Crime
1217/100k
Grand Forks
North Dakota
Median Income
$71,529
Median Rent
$908/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Property Crime
1941/100k
Grand Island
Nebraska
Median Income
$70,919
Median Rent
$947/mo
Violent Crime
230/100k
Property Crime
1976/100k
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
Median Income
$72,902
Median Rent
$895/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Property Crime
1217/100k
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Property Crime
1631/100k
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Property Crime
1631/100k
Manitowoc
Wisconsin
Median Income
$68,297
Median Rent
$752/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Property Crime
1217/100k
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Violent Crime
426/100k
Property Crime
2071/100k
Minot
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,073
Median Rent
$985/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Property Crime
1941/100k
Lincoln
Nebraska
Median Income
$71,163
Median Rent
$1,018/mo
Violent Crime
230/100k
Property Crime
1976/100k
Faribault-Northfield
Minnesota
Median Income
$81,455
Median Rent
$1,028/mo
Violent Crime
261/100k
Property Crime
1702/100k
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Property Crime
1631/100k
Putnam
Connecticut
Median Income
$88,806
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Frequently Asked Questions
How competitive is it to become a firefighter?
Highly competitive in desirable metros. Large departments can receive thousands of applications for dozens of openings. Written exams, physical fitness tests, and structured oral interviews are standard.
Do firefighters get good retirement benefits?
Typically excellent. Most departments offer defined-benefit pensions with full retirement after 20 to 25 years of service, often at 50 to 80 percent of final salary. This makes total career compensation significantly higher than salary alone suggests.
Can firefighters work overtime significantly?
Yes. Many experienced firefighters earn 20 to 40 percent above their base salary through overtime and detail assignments. This is especially common in understaffed departments and urban markets.