Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Silver Spring, MD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.
Silver Spring rent: September 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 Silver Spring, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Silver Spring
View full rent data for Silver Spring, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Silver Spring, MD?
Median rent in Silver Spring is $1,969 a month. A typical police officer in Maryland earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Silver Spring?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maryland (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Silver Spring's current median rent is $1,969/mo, which leaves a $117/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Silver Spring?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Maryland works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Silver Spring's median rent of $1,969.
Where is rent cheaper than Silver Spring for a police officer?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Garrison ($1,968/mo), Garrison ($1,967/mo), Lutherville Timonium ($1,964/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.