Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Willow Grove, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.4% of gross income.

Willow Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Willow Grove median rent
$2,004/mo
Police Officer salary (Pennsylvania)
$76,497/yr
Rent as % of income
31.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,375, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,912/mo in rent. Willow Grove's median rent of $2,004 exceeds that threshold by $92/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 54.5 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 Willow Grove, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Huntingdon Valley, PA
$2,002/mo (31.4% of income)
King of Prussia, PA
$2,001/mo (31.4% of income)
Huntingdon Valley, PA
$1,998/mo (31.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Willow Grove

View full rent data for Willow Grove, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Willow Grove, PA?

Median rent in Willow Grove is $2,004 a month. A typical police officer in Pennsylvania earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 31.4% 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 Willow Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Pennsylvania (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. Willow Grove's current median rent is $2,004/mo, which is $92/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Pennsylvania works roughly 54.5 hours a month to cover Willow Grove's median rent of $2,004.

Where is rent cheaper than Willow Grove for a police officer?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Huntingdon Valley ($2,002/mo), King of Prussia ($2,001/mo), Huntingdon Valley ($1,998/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 Willow Grove, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.