Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Summerville, SC?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.2% of gross income.
Summerville rent: July 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 Summerville, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Summerville
View full rent data for Summerville, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Summerville, SC?
Median rent in Summerville is $1,879 a month. A typical police officer in South Carolina earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 33.2% 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 Summerville?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in South Carolina (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Summerville's current median rent is $1,879/mo, which is $179/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Summerville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in South Carolina works roughly 57.5 hours a month to cover Summerville's median rent of $1,879.
Where is rent cheaper than Summerville for a police officer?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Murrells Inlet ($1,878/mo), Elgin ($1,877/mo), Murrells Inlet ($1,876/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.