Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Elmwood, LA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Elmwood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Elmwood median rent
$1,714/mo
Police Officer salary (Louisiana)
$67,225/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,602, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,681/mo in rent. Elmwood's median rent of $1,714 exceeds that threshold by $33/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 53 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Elmwood, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Belle Chasse, LA
$1,713/mo (30.6% of income)
Belle Chasse, LA
$1,709/mo (30.5% of income)
Gonzales, LA
$1,708/mo (30.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elmwood

View full rent data for Elmwood, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Elmwood, LA?

Median rent in Elmwood is $1,714 a month. A typical police officer in Louisiana earns about $67,225 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Elmwood?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Louisiana (~$67,225/yr) supports up to $1,681 a month in rent. Elmwood's current median rent is $1,714/mo, which is $33/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in Louisiana works roughly 53 hours a month to cover Elmwood's median rent of $1,714.

Where is rent cheaper than Elmwood for a police officer?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Belle Chasse ($1,713/mo), Belle Chasse ($1,709/mo), Gonzales ($1,708/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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