Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Ardmore, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.8% of gross income.

Ardmore rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Ardmore median rent
$2,408/mo
Police Officer salary (Pennsylvania)
$76,497/yr
Rent as % of income
37.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,375, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,912/mo in rent. Ardmore's median rent of $2,408 exceeds that threshold by $496/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 65.5 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Ardmore, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Downingtown, PA
$2,405/mo (37.7% of income)
Huntingdon Valley, PA
$2,405/mo (37.7% of income)
Exton, PA
$2,404/mo (37.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ardmore

View full rent data for Ardmore, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Ardmore, PA?

Median rent in Ardmore is $2,408 a month. A typical police officer in Pennsylvania earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 37.8% 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 Ardmore?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Pennsylvania (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. Ardmore's current median rent is $2,408/mo, which is $496/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Pennsylvania works roughly 65.5 hours a month to cover Ardmore's median rent of $2,408.

Where is rent cheaper than Ardmore for a police officer?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Downingtown ($2,405/mo), Huntingdon Valley ($2,405/mo), Exton ($2,404/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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