Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Southern Pines, NC?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29% of gross income.
Southern Pines rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Southern Pines, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Southern Pines
View full rent data for Southern Pines, NC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Southern Pines, NC?
Median rent in Southern Pines is $1,753 a month. A typical police officer in North Carolina earns about $72,634 a year, which makes that rent 29% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Southern Pines?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in North Carolina (~$72,634/yr) supports up to $1,816 a month in rent. Southern Pines's current median rent is $1,753/mo, which leaves a $63/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Southern Pines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in North Carolina works roughly 50.2 hours a month to cover Southern Pines's median rent of $1,753.
Where is rent cheaper than Southern Pines for a police officer?
Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Concord ($1,752/mo), Clemmons ($1,752/mo), Dallas ($1,752/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.