Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Waipahu, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.4% of gross income.
Waipahu rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii 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 Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Waipahu, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waipahu
View full rent data for Waipahu, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Waipahu, HI?
Median rent in Waipahu is $2,876 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 41.4% 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 Waipahu?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Waipahu's current median rent is $2,876/mo, which is $790/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Waipahu?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 71.7 hours a month to cover Waipahu's median rent of $2,876.
Where is rent cheaper than Waipahu for a police officer?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Mililani ($2,870/mo), Kaneohe ($2,868/mo), Kailua Kona ($2,866/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.