Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Big Spring, TX?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.
Big Spring rent: May 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 Big Spring, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Big Spring
View full rent data for Big Spring, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Big Spring, TX?
Median rent in Big Spring is $1,340 a month. A typical police officer in Texas earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Big Spring?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Texas (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. Big Spring's current median rent is $1,340/mo, which leaves a $572/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Big Spring?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Texas works roughly 36.4 hours a month to cover Big Spring's median rent of $1,340.
Where is rent cheaper than Big Spring for a police officer?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Galveston ($1,339/mo), Abilene ($1,339/mo), Waco ($1,339/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.