Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Westlake, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Westlake rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Westlake median rent
$1,853/mo
Police Officer salary (Ohio)
$72,634/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,053, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,816/mo in rent. Westlake's median rent of $1,853 exceeds that threshold by $37/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 53.1 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Westlake, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Sixteen Mile Stand, OH
$1,852/mo (30.6% of income)
Shaker Heights, OH
$1,850/mo (30.6% of income)
Mason, OH
$1,844/mo (30.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Westlake

View full rent data for Westlake, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Westlake, OH?

Median rent in Westlake is $1,853 a month. A typical police officer in Ohio earns about $72,634 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Westlake?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Ohio (~$72,634/yr) supports up to $1,816 a month in rent. Westlake's current median rent is $1,853/mo, which is $37/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Ohio works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover Westlake's median rent of $1,853.

Where is rent cheaper than Westlake for a police officer?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Sixteen Mile Stand ($1,852/mo), Shaker Heights ($1,850/mo), Mason ($1,844/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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