Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Chelsea, AL?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.8% of gross income.
Chelsea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chelsea
View full rent data for Chelsea, AL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Chelsea, AL?
Median rent in Chelsea is $2,151 a month. A typical police officer in Alabama earns about $66,452 a year, which makes that rent 38.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Chelsea?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Alabama (~$66,452/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $490/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Chelsea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in Alabama works roughly 67.3 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,151.
Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a police officer?
Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Pike Road ($2,137/mo), Fairhope ($2,136/mo), Fairhope ($2,128/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.