Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Washington, UT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

Washington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Utah state estimate).

Washington median rent
$1,781/mo
Police Officer salary (Utah)
$74,179/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,854/mo in rent. Washington's median rent of $1,781 leaves roughly $73/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 49.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Utah cities have lower median rent than Washington, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Saint George, UT
$1,780/mo (28.8% of income)
Cottonwood Heights, UT
$1,779/mo (28.8% of income)
Cottonwood Heights, UT
$1,778/mo (28.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Washington

View full rent data for Washington, UT →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Washington, UT?

Median rent in Washington is $1,781 a month. A typical police officer in Utah earns about $74,179 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Utah (~$74,179/yr) supports up to $1,854 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $1,781/mo, which leaves a $73/mo buffer.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Washington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Utah works roughly 49.9 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $1,781.

Where is rent cheaper than Washington for a police officer?

Nearby Utah cities with lower median rent include Saint George ($1,780/mo), Cottonwood Heights ($1,779/mo), Cottonwood Heights ($1,778/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Utah state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Washington, UT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.