Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Arlington, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.7% of gross income.
Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Arlington
View full rent data for Arlington, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Arlington, MA?
Median rent in Arlington is $3,043 a month. A typical police officer in Massachusetts earns about $89,633 a year, which makes that rent 40.7% 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 Arlington?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Massachusetts (~$89,633/yr) supports up to $2,241 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $3,043/mo, which is $802/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Arlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a police officer in Massachusetts works roughly 70.6 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $3,043.
Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a police officer?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Waltham ($3,042/mo), Hanover ($3,042/mo), Bedford ($3,037/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.