Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.1% of gross income.
South Padre Island rent: April 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 South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island
View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?
Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical police officer in Texas earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 66.1% 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 South Padre Island?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Texas (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $2,300/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in South Padre Island?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Texas works roughly 114.5 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.
Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a police officer?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.