Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in McKinleyville, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.1% of gross income.

McKinleyville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

McKinleyville median rent
$1,607/mo
Police Officer salary (California)
$91,179/yr
Rent as % of income
21.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,598, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,279/mo in rent. McKinleyville's median rent of $1,607 leaves roughly $672/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 36.7 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 California cities have lower median rent than McKinleyville, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Redding, CA
$1,606/mo (21.1% of income)
Redding, CA
$1,606/mo (21.1% of income)
Modesto, CA
$1,605/mo (21.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for McKinleyville

View full rent data for McKinleyville, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in McKinleyville, CA?

Median rent in McKinleyville is $1,607 a month. A typical police officer in California earns about $91,179 a year, which makes that rent 21.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in McKinleyville?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in California (~$91,179/yr) supports up to $2,279 a month in rent. McKinleyville's current median rent is $1,607/mo, which leaves a $672/mo buffer.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in McKinleyville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a police officer in California works roughly 36.7 hours a month to cover McKinleyville's median rent of $1,607.

Where is rent cheaper than McKinleyville for a police officer?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Redding ($1,606/mo), Redding ($1,606/mo), Modesto ($1,605/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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