Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Falling Waters, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.5% of gross income.

Falling Waters rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Falling Waters median rent
$1,887/mo
Police Officer salary (West Virginia)
$65,680/yr
Rent as % of income
34.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,473, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,642/mo in rent. Falling Waters's median rent of $1,887 exceeds that threshold by $245/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 59.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Falling Waters, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Martinsburg, WV
$1,648/mo (30.1% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,643/mo (30% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,635/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Falling Waters

View full rent data for Falling Waters, WV →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Falling Waters, WV?

Median rent in Falling Waters is $1,887 a month. A typical police officer in West Virginia earns about $65,680 a year, which makes that rent 34.5% 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 Falling Waters?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in West Virginia (~$65,680/yr) supports up to $1,642 a month in rent. Falling Waters's current median rent is $1,887/mo, which is $245/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Falling Waters?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in West Virginia works roughly 59.8 hours a month to cover Falling Waters's median rent of $1,887.

Where is rent cheaper than Falling Waters for a police officer?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Martinsburg ($1,648/mo), Martinsburg ($1,643/mo), Martinsburg ($1,635/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived West Virginia state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Falling Waters, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.