Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Centennial, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

Centennial rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Centennial median rent
$2,259/mo
Police Officer salary (Colorado)
$81,134/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,761, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,028/mo in rent. Centennial's median rent of $2,259 exceeds that threshold by $231/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 57.9 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Centennial, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Castle Rock, CO
$2,258/mo (33.4% of income)
Milliken, CO
$2,258/mo (33.4% of income)
Rifle, CO
$2,250/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Centennial

View full rent data for Centennial, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Centennial, CO?

Median rent in Centennial is $2,259 a month. A typical police officer in Colorado earns about $81,134 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% 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 Centennial?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Colorado (~$81,134/yr) supports up to $2,028 a month in rent. Centennial's current median rent is $2,259/mo, which is $231/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Colorado works roughly 57.9 hours a month to cover Centennial's median rent of $2,259.

Where is rent cheaper than Centennial for a police officer?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Castle Rock ($2,258/mo), Milliken ($2,258/mo), Rifle ($2,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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