Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in South Portland, ME?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.
South Portland rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than South Portland, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for South Portland
View full rent data for South Portland, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in South Portland, ME?
Median rent in South Portland is $2,611 a month. A typical police officer in Maine earns about $71,861 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% 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 South Portland?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Maine (~$71,861/yr) supports up to $1,797 a month in rent. South Portland's current median rent is $2,611/mo, which is $814/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in South Portland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Maine works roughly 75.6 hours a month to cover South Portland's median rent of $2,611.
Where is rent cheaper than South Portland for a police officer?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Kittery ($2,605/mo), Kittery ($2,596/mo), Freeport ($2,532/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.