Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Rolling Meadows, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

Rolling Meadows rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Rolling Meadows median rent
$1,984/mo
Police Officer salary (Illinois)
$78,815/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,568, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,970/mo in rent. Rolling Meadows's median rent of $1,984 exceeds that threshold by $14/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 52.4 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Rolling Meadows, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Geneva, IL
$1,983/mo (30.2% of income)
Oak Park, IL
$1,982/mo (30.2% of income)
Park Forest, IL
$1,981/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rolling Meadows

View full rent data for Rolling Meadows, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Rolling Meadows, IL?

Median rent in Rolling Meadows is $1,984 a month. A typical police officer in Illinois earns about $78,815 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Rolling Meadows?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Illinois (~$78,815/yr) supports up to $1,970 a month in rent. Rolling Meadows's current median rent is $1,984/mo, which is $14/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a police officer in Illinois works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Rolling Meadows's median rent of $1,984.

Where is rent cheaper than Rolling Meadows for a police officer?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Geneva ($1,983/mo), Oak Park ($1,982/mo), Park Forest ($1,981/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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