Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Belle Haven, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.8% of gross income.

Belle Haven rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Belle Haven median rent
$2,284/mo
Police Officer salary (Virginia)
$78,815/yr
Rent as % of income
34.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,568, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,970/mo in rent. Belle Haven's median rent of $2,284 exceeds that threshold by $314/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 60.3 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Belle Haven, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Stafford, VA
$2,282/mo (34.7% of income)
Chesterfield, VA
$2,281/mo (34.7% of income)
Stafford, VA
$2,280/mo (34.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Belle Haven

View full rent data for Belle Haven, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Belle Haven, VA?

Median rent in Belle Haven is $2,284 a month. A typical police officer in Virginia earns about $78,815 a year, which makes that rent 34.8% 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 Belle Haven?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Virginia (~$78,815/yr) supports up to $1,970 a month in rent. Belle Haven's current median rent is $2,284/mo, which is $314/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a police officer in Virginia works roughly 60.3 hours a month to cover Belle Haven's median rent of $2,284.

Where is rent cheaper than Belle Haven for a police officer?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Stafford ($2,282/mo), Chesterfield ($2,281/mo), Stafford ($2,280/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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