Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Westerly, RI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.4% of gross income.
Westerly rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Westerly, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Westerly
View full rent data for Westerly, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Westerly, RI?
Median rent in Westerly is $2,033 a month. A typical police officer in Rhode Island earns about $80,361 a year, which makes that rent 30.4% 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 Westerly?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Rhode Island (~$80,361/yr) supports up to $2,009 a month in rent. Westerly's current median rent is $2,033/mo, which is $24/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Westerly?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Rhode Island works roughly 52.6 hours a month to cover Westerly's median rent of $2,033.
Where is rent cheaper than Westerly for a police officer?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Cranston ($2,023/mo), Johnston ($2,019/mo), Cranston ($2,009/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.