Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Lincoln, RI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.4% of gross income.

Lincoln rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Lincoln median rent
$2,167/mo
Police Officer salary (Rhode Island)
$80,361/yr
Rent as % of income
32.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,009/mo in rent. Lincoln's median rent of $2,167 exceeds that threshold by $158/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 56.1 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Lincoln, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Cumberland, RI
$2,163/mo (32.3% of income)
Warwick, RI
$2,161/mo (32.3% of income)
Cumberland, RI
$2,160/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lincoln

View full rent data for Lincoln, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Lincoln, RI?

Median rent in Lincoln is $2,167 a month. A typical police officer in Rhode Island earns about $80,361 a year, which makes that rent 32.4% 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 Lincoln?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Rhode Island (~$80,361/yr) supports up to $2,009 a month in rent. Lincoln's current median rent is $2,167/mo, which is $158/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Rhode Island works roughly 56.1 hours a month to cover Lincoln's median rent of $2,167.

Where is rent cheaper than Lincoln for a police officer?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Cumberland ($2,163/mo), Warwick ($2,161/mo), Cumberland ($2,160/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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