Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Commerce City, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.

Commerce City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Commerce City median rent
$2,484/mo
Police Officer salary (Colorado)
$81,134/yr
Rent as % of income
36.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,761, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,028/mo in rent. Commerce City's median rent of $2,484 exceeds that threshold by $456/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 63.7 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 Commerce City, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Boulder, CO
$2,483/mo (36.7% of income)
Glenwood Springs, CO
$2,482/mo (36.7% of income)
Boulder, CO
$2,475/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Commerce City

View full rent data for Commerce City, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Commerce City, CO?

Median rent in Commerce City is $2,484 a month. A typical police officer in Colorado earns about $81,134 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% 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 Commerce City?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Colorado (~$81,134/yr) supports up to $2,028 a month in rent. Commerce City's current median rent is $2,484/mo, which is $456/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Colorado works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover Commerce City's median rent of $2,484.

Where is rent cheaper than Commerce City for a police officer?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Boulder ($2,483/mo), Glenwood Springs ($2,482/mo), Boulder ($2,475/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 Commerce City, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.