Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Ellicott City, MD?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.
Ellicott City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Ellicott City, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ellicott City
View full rent data for Ellicott City, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Ellicott City, MD?
Median rent in Ellicott City is $2,552 a month. A typical police officer in Maryland earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% 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 Ellicott City?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maryland (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Ellicott City's current median rent is $2,552/mo, which is $466/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Ellicott City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Maryland works roughly 63.6 hours a month to cover Ellicott City's median rent of $2,552.
Where is rent cheaper than Ellicott City for a police officer?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Berlin ($2,551/mo), Derwood ($2,550/mo), Riverdale ($2,547/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.