Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Surf City, NC?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.4% of gross income.
Surf City rent: June 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 Surf City, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Surf City
View full rent data for Surf City, NC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Surf City, NC?
Median rent in Surf City is $2,265 a month. A typical police officer in North Carolina earns about $72,634 a year, which makes that rent 37.4% 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 Surf City?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in North Carolina (~$72,634/yr) supports up to $1,816 a month in rent. Surf City's current median rent is $2,265/mo, which is $449/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Surf City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in North Carolina works roughly 64.9 hours a month to cover Surf City's median rent of $2,265.
Where is rent cheaper than Surf City for a police officer?
Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Waxhaw ($2,263/mo), Advance ($2,262/mo), Waxhaw ($2,261/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.