Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.
Meridian rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Meridian
View full rent data for Meridian, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Meridian, ID?
Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical police officer in Idaho earns about $68,770 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Meridian?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Idaho (~$68,770/yr) supports up to $1,719 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which is $346/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Meridian?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Idaho works roughly 62.5 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.
Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a police officer?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,052/mo), Kimberly ($2,050/mo), Eagle ($2,045/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.