Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Athens, TX?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.3% of gross income.
Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Athens
View full rent data for Athens, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Athens, TX?
Median rent in Athens is $1,168 a month. A typical police officer in Texas earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 18.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Athens?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Texas (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,168/mo, which leaves a $744/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Athens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Texas works roughly 31.8 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,168.
Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a police officer?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include North Richland Hills ($1,167/mo), Midland ($1,165/mo), Freeport ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.