Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Jefferson, LA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.8% of gross income.

Jefferson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Jefferson median rent
$1,838/mo
Police Officer salary (Louisiana)
$67,225/yr
Rent as % of income
32.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,602, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,681/mo in rent. Jefferson's median rent of $1,838 exceeds that threshold by $157/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 56.9 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Jefferson, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Elmwood, LA
$1,836/mo (32.8% of income)
Gonzales, LA
$1,830/mo (32.7% of income)
Gonzales, LA
$1,830/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson

View full rent data for Jefferson, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Jefferson, LA?

Median rent in Jefferson is $1,838 a month. A typical police officer in Louisiana earns about $67,225 a year, which makes that rent 32.8% 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 Jefferson?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Louisiana (~$67,225/yr) supports up to $1,681 a month in rent. Jefferson's current median rent is $1,838/mo, which is $157/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in Louisiana works roughly 56.9 hours a month to cover Jefferson's median rent of $1,838.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson for a police officer?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Elmwood ($1,836/mo), Gonzales ($1,830/mo), Gonzales ($1,830/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 Jefferson, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.