Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Johnston, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.2% of gross income.
Johnston rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Johnston, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Johnston
View full rent data for Johnston, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Johnston, IA?
Median rent in Johnston is $1,432 a month. A typical police officer in Iowa earns about $71,088 a year, which makes that rent 24.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Johnston?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Iowa (~$71,088/yr) supports up to $1,777 a month in rent. Johnston's current median rent is $1,432/mo, which leaves a $345/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Johnston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a police officer in Iowa works roughly 41.9 hours a month to cover Johnston's median rent of $1,432.
Where is rent cheaper than Johnston for a police officer?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include North Liberty ($1,430/mo), Ankeny ($1,423/mo), Ankeny ($1,422/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.