Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39% of gross income.
Highlands Ranch rent: July 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 Highlands Ranch, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Highlands Ranch
View full rent data for Highlands Ranch, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?
Median rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,635 a month. A typical police officer in Colorado earns about $81,134 a year, which makes that rent 39% 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 Highlands Ranch?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Colorado (~$81,134/yr) supports up to $2,028 a month in rent. Highlands Ranch's current median rent is $2,635/mo, which is $607/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Highlands Ranch?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Colorado works roughly 67.6 hours a month to cover Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,635.
Where is rent cheaper than Highlands Ranch for a police officer?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Louisville ($2,634/mo), Evergreen ($2,632/mo), Boulder ($2,632/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.