Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Sun City West, AZ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.

Sun City West rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Sun City West median rent
$1,970/mo
Police Officer salary (Arizona)
$74,952/yr
Rent as % of income
31.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,246, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,874/mo in rent. Sun City West's median rent of $1,970 exceeds that threshold by $96/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 54.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Sun City West, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Buckeye, AZ
$1,969/mo (31.5% of income)
San Tan Valley, AZ
$1,969/mo (31.5% of income)
San Tan Valley, AZ
$1,968/mo (31.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sun City West

View full rent data for Sun City West, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Sun City West, AZ?

Median rent in Sun City West is $1,970 a month. A typical police officer in Arizona earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% 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 Sun City West?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Arizona (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. Sun City West's current median rent is $1,970/mo, which is $96/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Sun City West?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Arizona works roughly 54.7 hours a month to cover Sun City West's median rent of $1,970.

Where is rent cheaper than Sun City West for a police officer?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Buckeye ($1,969/mo), San Tan Valley ($1,969/mo), San Tan Valley ($1,968/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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