Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Smithville, MO?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.9% of gross income.
Smithville rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Smithville
View full rent data for Smithville, MO →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Smithville, MO?
Median rent in Smithville is $2,126 a month. A typical police officer in Missouri earns about $71,088 a year, which makes that rent 35.9% 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 Smithville?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Missouri (~$71,088/yr) supports up to $1,777 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $2,126/mo, which is $349/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Smithville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a police officer in Missouri works roughly 62.2 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $2,126.
Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a police officer?
Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Riverside ($2,051/mo), Chesterfield ($2,022/mo), Grain Valley ($1,991/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.