Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Clarkston, MI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.

Clarkston rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Clarkston median rent
$1,656/mo
Police Officer salary (Michigan)
$74,179/yr
Rent as % of income
26.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,854/mo in rent. Clarkston's median rent of $1,656 leaves roughly $198/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 46.4 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Clarkston, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Holland, MI
$1,655/mo (26.8% of income)
Rochester Hills, MI
$1,653/mo (26.7% of income)
Portage, MI
$1,653/mo (26.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clarkston

View full rent data for Clarkston, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Clarkston, MI?

Median rent in Clarkston is $1,656 a month. A typical police officer in Michigan earns about $74,179 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Clarkston?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Michigan (~$74,179/yr) supports up to $1,854 a month in rent. Clarkston's current median rent is $1,656/mo, which leaves a $198/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Michigan works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Clarkston's median rent of $1,656.

Where is rent cheaper than Clarkston for a police officer?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Holland ($1,655/mo), Rochester Hills ($1,653/mo), Portage ($1,653/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Michigan state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Clarkston, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.