Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Boulder, CO?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.
Boulder rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Boulder, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Boulder
View full rent data for Boulder, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Boulder, CO?
Median rent in Boulder is $2,439 a month. A typical police officer in Colorado earns about $81,134 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 Boulder?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Colorado (~$81,134/yr) supports up to $2,028 a month in rent. Boulder's current median rent is $2,439/mo, which is $411/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Boulder?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Colorado works roughly 62.5 hours a month to cover Boulder's median rent of $2,439.
Where is rent cheaper than Boulder for a police officer?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Highlands Ranch ($2,435/mo), Highlands Ranch ($2,430/mo), Steamboat Springs ($2,429/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.