Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Marion, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.1% of gross income.

Marion rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Marion median rent
$955/mo
Police Officer salary (Indiana)
$71,088/yr
Rent as % of income
16.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,924, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,777/mo in rent. Marion's median rent of $955 leaves roughly $822/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 27.9 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Marion, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

East Chicago, IN
$952/mo (16.1% of income)
Terre Haute, IN
$942/mo (15.9% of income)
Terre Haute, IN
$942/mo (15.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marion

View full rent data for Marion, IN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Marion, IN?

Median rent in Marion is $955 a month. A typical police officer in Indiana earns about $71,088 a year, which makes that rent 16.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Marion?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Indiana (~$71,088/yr) supports up to $1,777 a month in rent. Marion's current median rent is $955/mo, which leaves a $822/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a police officer in Indiana works roughly 27.9 hours a month to cover Marion's median rent of $955.

Where is rent cheaper than Marion for a police officer?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include East Chicago ($952/mo), Terre Haute ($942/mo), Terre Haute ($942/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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