Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Star City, WV?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.4% of gross income.
Star City rent: April 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 Star City, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Star City
View full rent data for Star City, WV →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Star City, WV?
Median rent in Star City is $900 a month. A typical police officer in West Virginia earns about $65,680 a year, which makes that rent 16.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Star City?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in West Virginia (~$65,680/yr) supports up to $1,642 a month in rent. Star City's current median rent is $900/mo, which leaves a $742/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Star City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a police officer in West Virginia works roughly 28.5 hours a month to cover Star City's median rent of $900.
Where is rent cheaper than Star City for a police officer?
Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Huntington ($898/mo), Huntington ($896/mo), Parkersburg ($896/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.