Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Beaufort, SC?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.8% of gross income.
Beaufort rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Beaufort, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Beaufort
View full rent data for Beaufort, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Beaufort, SC?
Median rent in Beaufort is $1,800 a month. A typical police officer in South Carolina earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 31.8% 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 Beaufort?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in South Carolina (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Beaufort's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $100/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Beaufort?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in South Carolina works roughly 55.1 hours a month to cover Beaufort's median rent of $1,800.
Where is rent cheaper than Beaufort for a police officer?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Summerville ($1,799/mo), Summerville ($1,799/mo), Summerville ($1,798/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.