Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Ojai, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

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

Ojai median rent
$3,706/mo
Police Officer salary (California)
$91,179/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,598, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,279/mo in rent. Ojai's median rent of $3,706 exceeds that threshold by $1,427/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 84.5 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 Ojai, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Los Gatos, CA
$3,705/mo (48.8% of income)
Foster City, CA
$3,704/mo (48.7% of income)
San Carlos, CA
$3,704/mo (48.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ojai

View full rent data for Ojai, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Ojai, CA?

Median rent in Ojai is $3,706 a month. A typical police officer in California earns about $91,179 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Ojai?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in California (~$91,179/yr) supports up to $2,279 a month in rent. Ojai's current median rent is $3,706/mo, which is $1,427/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a police officer in California works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover Ojai's median rent of $3,706.

Where is rent cheaper than Ojai for a police officer?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Gatos ($3,705/mo), Foster City ($3,704/mo), San Carlos ($3,704/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 Ojai, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.