Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in West Melbourne, FL?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.5% of gross income.
West Melbourne rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than West Melbourne, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for West Melbourne
View full rent data for West Melbourne, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in West Melbourne, FL?
Median rent in West Melbourne is $1,948 a month. A typical police officer in Florida earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 32.5% 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 West Melbourne?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Florida (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. West Melbourne's current median rent is $1,948/mo, which is $151/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in West Melbourne?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Florida works roughly 56.4 hours a month to cover West Melbourne's median rent of $1,948.
Where is rent cheaper than West Melbourne for a police officer?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Fort Lauderdale ($1,947/mo), Ponte Vedra ($1,947/mo), Santa Rosa Beach ($1,947/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.