Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Riverdale, MD?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.
Riverdale rent: August 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 Riverdale, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Riverdale
View full rent data for Riverdale, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Riverdale, MD?
Median rent in Riverdale is $2,595 a month. A typical police officer in Maryland earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% 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 Riverdale?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maryland (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Riverdale's current median rent is $2,595/mo, which is $509/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Riverdale?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Maryland works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover Riverdale's median rent of $2,595.
Where is rent cheaper than Riverdale for a police officer?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hanover ($2,592/mo), Hanover ($2,585/mo), Ellicott City ($2,585/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.