Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in San Anselmo, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.1% of gross income.

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

San Anselmo median rent
$3,657/mo
Police Officer salary (California)
$91,179/yr
Rent as % of income
48.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,598, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,279/mo in rent. San Anselmo's median rent of $3,657 exceeds that threshold by $1,378/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 83.4 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 San Anselmo, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Palo Alto, CA
$3,655/mo (48.1% of income)
Dana Point, CA
$3,655/mo (48.1% of income)
Redwood City, CA
$3,655/mo (48.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Anselmo

View full rent data for San Anselmo, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in San Anselmo, CA?

Median rent in San Anselmo is $3,657 a month. A typical police officer in California earns about $91,179 a year, which makes that rent 48.1% 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 San Anselmo?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in California (~$91,179/yr) supports up to $2,279 a month in rent. San Anselmo's current median rent is $3,657/mo, which is $1,378/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a police officer in California works roughly 83.4 hours a month to cover San Anselmo's median rent of $3,657.

Where is rent cheaper than San Anselmo for a police officer?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Palo Alto ($3,655/mo), Dana Point ($3,655/mo), Redwood City ($3,655/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 San Anselmo, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.