Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Kingston, WA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.9% of gross income.
Kingston rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kingston, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kingston
View full rent data for Kingston, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Kingston, WA?
Median rent in Kingston is $2,300 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 31.9% 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 Kingston?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Kingston's current median rent is $2,300/mo, which is $136/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Kingston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 55.3 hours a month to cover Kingston's median rent of $2,300.
Where is rent cheaper than Kingston for a police officer?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Covington ($2,299/mo), East Wenatchee ($2,298/mo), Monroe ($2,289/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.