Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Lewes, DE?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.
Lewes rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Lewes, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lewes
View full rent data for Lewes, DE →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Lewes, DE?
Median rent in Lewes is $2,170 a month. A typical police officer in Delaware earns about $78,815 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Lewes?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Delaware (~$78,815/yr) supports up to $1,970 a month in rent. Lewes's current median rent is $2,170/mo, which is $200/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Lewes?
At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a police officer in Delaware works roughly 57.3 hours a month to cover Lewes's median rent of $2,170.
Where is rent cheaper than Lewes for a police officer?
Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Bear ($2,167/mo), Newark ($2,165/mo), Bear ($2,160/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.