Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in West Lafayette, IN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.
West Lafayette rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than West Lafayette, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for West Lafayette
View full rent data for West Lafayette, IN →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in West Lafayette, IN?
Median rent in West Lafayette is $1,841 a month. A typical police officer in Indiana earns about $71,088 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% 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 West Lafayette?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Indiana (~$71,088/yr) supports up to $1,777 a month in rent. West Lafayette's current median rent is $1,841/mo, which is $64/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in West Lafayette?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a police officer in Indiana works roughly 53.9 hours a month to cover West Lafayette's median rent of $1,841.
Where is rent cheaper than West Lafayette for a police officer?
Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Westfield ($1,840/mo), Brownsburg ($1,838/mo), Fishers ($1,837/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.