Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Brandywine, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.1% of gross income.

Brandywine rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Brandywine median rent
$3,064/mo
Police Officer salary (Maryland)
$83,452/yr
Rent as % of income
44.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,954, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,086/mo in rent. Brandywine's median rent of $3,064 exceeds that threshold by $978/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 76.4 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Brandywine, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Clinton, MD
$3,042/mo (43.7% of income)
Kensington, MD
$3,028/mo (43.5% of income)
Kensington, MD
$3,000/mo (43.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brandywine

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Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Brandywine, MD?

Median rent in Brandywine is $3,064 a month. A typical police officer in Maryland earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 44.1% 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 Brandywine?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maryland (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Brandywine's current median rent is $3,064/mo, which is $978/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Maryland works roughly 76.4 hours a month to cover Brandywine's median rent of $3,064.

Where is rent cheaper than Brandywine for a police officer?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Clinton ($3,042/mo), Kensington ($3,028/mo), Kensington ($3,000/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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