Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in University Park, TX?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.1% of gross income.
University Park 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 University Park, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for University Park
View full rent data for University Park, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in University Park, TX?
Median rent in University Park is $5,424 a month. A typical police officer in Texas earns about $76,497 a year, which makes that rent 85.1% 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 University Park?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Texas (~$76,497/yr) supports up to $1,912 a month in rent. University Park's current median rent is $5,424/mo, which is $3,512/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in University Park?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a police officer in Texas works roughly 147.5 hours a month to cover University Park's median rent of $5,424.
Where is rent cheaper than University Park for a police officer?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include South Padre Island ($4,212/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.