Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Charles Town, WV?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.
Charles Town rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia 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 West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Charles Town, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Charles Town
View full rent data for Charles Town, WV →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Charles Town, WV?
Median rent in Charles Town is $1,976 a month. A typical police officer in West Virginia earns about $65,680 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% 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 Charles Town?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in West Virginia (~$65,680/yr) supports up to $1,642 a month in rent. Charles Town's current median rent is $1,976/mo, which is $334/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Charles Town?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in West Virginia works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Charles Town's median rent of $1,976.
Where is rent cheaper than Charles Town for a police officer?
Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Falling Waters ($1,913/mo), Falling Waters ($1,911/mo), Falling Waters ($1,892/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.