Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Zachary, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

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

Zachary median rent
$1,557/mo
Police Officer salary (Louisiana)
$67,225/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,602, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,681/mo in rent. Zachary's median rent of $1,557 leaves roughly $124/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 48.2 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 Zachary, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Jefferson, LA
$1,553/mo (27.7% of income)
Covington, LA
$1,552/mo (27.7% of income)
Broussard, LA
$1,551/mo (27.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Zachary

View full rent data for Zachary, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Zachary, LA?

Median rent in Zachary is $1,557 a month. A typical police officer in Louisiana earns about $67,225 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Zachary?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Louisiana (~$67,225/yr) supports up to $1,681 a month in rent. Zachary's current median rent is $1,557/mo, which leaves a $124/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in Louisiana works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Zachary's median rent of $1,557.

Where is rent cheaper than Zachary for a police officer?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Jefferson ($1,553/mo), Covington ($1,552/mo), Broussard ($1,551/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 Zachary, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.