Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Fernandina Beach, FL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.9% of gross income.

Fernandina Beach rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Fernandina Beach median rent
$2,267/mo
Police Officer salary (Florida)
$71,861/yr
Rent as % of income
37.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,988, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,797/mo in rent. Fernandina Beach's median rent of $2,267 exceeds that threshold by $470/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 65.6 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Fernandina Beach, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Land O Lakes, FL
$2,266/mo (37.8% of income)
Tarpon Springs, FL
$2,266/mo (37.8% of income)
West Palm Beach, FL
$2,266/mo (37.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fernandina Beach

View full rent data for Fernandina Beach, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Fernandina Beach, FL?

Median rent in Fernandina Beach is $2,267 a month. A typical police officer in Florida earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 37.9% 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 Fernandina Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Florida (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. Fernandina Beach's current median rent is $2,267/mo, which is $470/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Florida works roughly 65.6 hours a month to cover Fernandina Beach's median rent of $2,267.

Where is rent cheaper than Fernandina Beach for a police officer?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Land O Lakes ($2,266/mo), Tarpon Springs ($2,266/mo), West Palm Beach ($2,266/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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