Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Eugene, OR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.
Eugene rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Eugene, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Eugene
View full rent data for Eugene, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Eugene, OR?
Median rent in Eugene is $1,808 a month. A typical police officer in Oregon earns about $80,361 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Eugene?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Oregon (~$80,361/yr) supports up to $2,009 a month in rent. Eugene's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which leaves a $201/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Eugene?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Oregon works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Eugene's median rent of $1,808.
Where is rent cheaper than Eugene for a police officer?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Beaverton ($1,806/mo), Clackamas ($1,806/mo), Saint Helens ($1,805/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.