Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Stuart, FL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.9% of gross income.

Stuart rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Stuart median rent
$2,151/mo
Police Officer salary (Florida)
$71,861/yr
Rent as % of income
35.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,988, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,797/mo in rent. Stuart's median rent of $2,151 exceeds that threshold by $354/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 62.3 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 Stuart, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Lake Hart, FL
$2,150/mo (35.9% of income)
The Villages, FL
$2,150/mo (35.9% of income)
Nokomis, FL
$2,150/mo (35.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Stuart

View full rent data for Stuart, FL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Stuart, FL?

Median rent in Stuart is $2,151 a month. A typical police officer in Florida earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 35.9% 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 Stuart?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Florida (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. Stuart's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $354/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Florida works roughly 62.3 hours a month to cover Stuart's median rent of $2,151.

Where is rent cheaper than Stuart for a police officer?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Lake Hart ($2,150/mo), The Villages ($2,150/mo), Nokomis ($2,150/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 Stuart, FL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.