Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Framingham, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.6% of gross income.

Framingham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Framingham median rent
$2,360/mo
Police Officer salary (Massachusetts)
$89,633/yr
Rent as % of income
31.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,241/mo in rent. Framingham's median rent of $2,360 exceeds that threshold by $119/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 54.8 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Framingham, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Lawrence, MA
$2,359/mo (31.6% of income)
Lawrence, MA
$2,358/mo (31.6% of income)
Lawrence, MA
$2,357/mo (31.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Framingham

View full rent data for Framingham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Framingham, MA?

Median rent in Framingham is $2,360 a month. A typical police officer in Massachusetts earns about $89,633 a year, which makes that rent 31.6% 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 Framingham?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Massachusetts (~$89,633/yr) supports up to $2,241 a month in rent. Framingham's current median rent is $2,360/mo, which is $119/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a police officer in Massachusetts works roughly 54.8 hours a month to cover Framingham's median rent of $2,360.

Where is rent cheaper than Framingham for a police officer?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Lawrence ($2,359/mo), Lawrence ($2,358/mo), Lawrence ($2,357/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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