Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Star, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Star rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Star median rent
$2,443/mo
Police Officer salary (Idaho)
$68,770/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,731, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,719/mo in rent. Star's median rent of $2,443 exceeds that threshold by $724/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 73.9 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Star, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Hayden, ID
$2,277/mo (39.7% of income)
Kuna, ID
$2,245/mo (39.2% of income)
Kuna, ID
$2,236/mo (39% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Star

View full rent data for Star, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Star, ID?

Median rent in Star is $2,443 a month. A typical police officer in Idaho earns about $68,770 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Star?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Idaho (~$68,770/yr) supports up to $1,719 a month in rent. Star's current median rent is $2,443/mo, which is $724/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Idaho works roughly 73.9 hours a month to cover Star's median rent of $2,443.

Where is rent cheaper than Star for a police officer?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Hayden ($2,277/mo), Kuna ($2,245/mo), Kuna ($2,236/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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