Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Lake Stevens, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.
Lake Stevens rent: July 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 Lake Stevens, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lake Stevens
View full rent data for Lake Stevens, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Lake Stevens, WA?
Median rent in Lake Stevens is $3,023 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% 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 Lake Stevens?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Lake Stevens's current median rent is $3,023/mo, which is $859/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Lake Stevens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 72.7 hours a month to cover Lake Stevens's median rent of $3,023.
Where is rent cheaper than Lake Stevens for a police officer?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Maple Valley ($2,999/mo), Fircrest ($2,998/mo), Issaquah ($2,996/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.