Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Severn, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

Severn rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Severn median rent
$2,316/mo
Police Officer salary (Maryland)
$83,452/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,954, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,086/mo in rent. Severn's median rent of $2,316 exceeds that threshold by $230/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 57.7 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 Severn, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Crofton, MD
$2,314/mo (33.3% of income)
Upper Marlboro, MD
$2,314/mo (33.3% of income)
Crofton, MD
$2,313/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Severn

View full rent data for Severn, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Severn, MD?

Median rent in Severn is $2,316 a month. A typical police officer in Maryland earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% 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 Severn?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maryland (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Severn's current median rent is $2,316/mo, which is $230/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Maryland works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover Severn's median rent of $2,316.

Where is rent cheaper than Severn for a police officer?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Crofton ($2,314/mo), Upper Marlboro ($2,314/mo), Crofton ($2,313/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 Severn, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.