Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Kentwood, MI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.3% of gross income.

Kentwood rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Kentwood median rent
$1,565/mo
Police Officer salary (Michigan)
$74,179/yr
Rent as % of income
25.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,854/mo in rent. Kentwood's median rent of $1,565 leaves roughly $289/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 43.9 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 Kentwood, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Redford, MI
$1,564/mo (25.3% of income)
Grand Haven, MI
$1,563/mo (25.3% of income)
Ferndale, MI
$1,562/mo (25.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kentwood

View full rent data for Kentwood, MI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Kentwood, MI?

Median rent in Kentwood is $1,565 a month. A typical police officer in Michigan earns about $74,179 a year, which makes that rent 25.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Kentwood?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Michigan (~$74,179/yr) supports up to $1,854 a month in rent. Kentwood's current median rent is $1,565/mo, which leaves a $289/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Michigan works roughly 43.9 hours a month to cover Kentwood's median rent of $1,565.

Where is rent cheaper than Kentwood for a police officer?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Redford ($1,564/mo), Grand Haven ($1,563/mo), Ferndale ($1,562/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 Kentwood, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.