Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Onalaska, WI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.
Onalaska rent: June 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 Onalaska, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Onalaska
View full rent data for Onalaska, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Onalaska, WI?
Median rent in Onalaska is $1,412 a month. A typical police officer in Wisconsin earns about $73,407 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Onalaska?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Wisconsin (~$73,407/yr) supports up to $1,835 a month in rent. Onalaska's current median rent is $1,412/mo, which leaves a $423/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Onalaska?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Wisconsin works roughly 40 hours a month to cover Onalaska's median rent of $1,412.
Where is rent cheaper than Onalaska for a police officer?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Waukesha ($1,411/mo), West Allis ($1,408/mo), Menomonee Falls ($1,405/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.