Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Carbondale, CO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.6% of gross income.
Carbondale rent: May 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 Carbondale, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Carbondale
View full rent data for Carbondale, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Carbondale, CO?
Median rent in Carbondale is $4,033 a month. A typical police officer in Colorado earns about $81,134 a year, which makes that rent 59.6% 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 Carbondale?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Colorado (~$81,134/yr) supports up to $2,028 a month in rent. Carbondale's current median rent is $4,033/mo, which is $2,005/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Carbondale?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Colorado works roughly 103.4 hours a month to cover Carbondale's median rent of $4,033.
Where is rent cheaper than Carbondale for a police officer?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Silverthorne ($3,766/mo), Vail ($3,733/mo), Silverthorne ($3,711/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.