Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Elm Grove, WI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.6% of gross income.
Elm Grove rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Elm Grove, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Elm Grove
View full rent data for Elm Grove, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Elm Grove, WI?
Median rent in Elm Grove is $3,281 a month. A typical police officer in Wisconsin earns about $73,407 a year, which makes that rent 53.6% 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 Elm Grove?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Wisconsin (~$73,407/yr) supports up to $1,835 a month in rent. Elm Grove's current median rent is $3,281/mo, which is $1,446/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Elm Grove?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Wisconsin works roughly 93 hours a month to cover Elm Grove's median rent of $3,281.
Where is rent cheaper than Elm Grove for a police officer?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Whitefish Bay ($2,819/mo), Whitefish Bay ($2,562/mo), Whitefish Bay ($2,513/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.