Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in White Bear Lake, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.

White Bear Lake rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

White Bear Lake median rent
$1,748/mo
Police Officer salary (Minnesota)
$80,361/yr
Rent as % of income
26.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,009/mo in rent. White Bear Lake's median rent of $1,748 leaves roughly $261/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 45.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than White Bear Lake, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Brooklyn Center, MN
$1,747/mo (26.1% of income)
Saint Michael, MN
$1,746/mo (26.1% of income)
Savage, MN
$1,746/mo (26.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for White Bear Lake

View full rent data for White Bear Lake, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in White Bear Lake, MN?

Median rent in White Bear Lake is $1,748 a month. A typical police officer in Minnesota earns about $80,361 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in White Bear Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Minnesota (~$80,361/yr) supports up to $2,009 a month in rent. White Bear Lake's current median rent is $1,748/mo, which leaves a $261/mo buffer.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in White Bear Lake?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Minnesota works roughly 45.2 hours a month to cover White Bear Lake's median rent of $1,748.

Where is rent cheaper than White Bear Lake for a police officer?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Brooklyn Center ($1,747/mo), Saint Michael ($1,746/mo), Savage ($1,746/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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