Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Helena, AL?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.1% of gross income.
Helena rent: July 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 Helena, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Helena
View full rent data for Helena, AL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Helena, AL?
Median rent in Helena is $1,944 a month. A typical police officer in Alabama earns about $66,452 a year, which makes that rent 35.1% 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 Helena?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Alabama (~$66,452/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. Helena's current median rent is $1,944/mo, which is $283/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Helena?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in Alabama works roughly 60.8 hours a month to cover Helena's median rent of $1,944.
Where is rent cheaper than Helena for a police officer?
Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Pike Road ($1,941/mo), Pike Road ($1,932/mo), Mc Calla ($1,927/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.