Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Medford, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.
Medford 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 Medford, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Medford
View full rent data for Medford, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Medford, MA?
Median rent in Medford is $3,419 a month. A typical police officer in Massachusetts earns about $89,633 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% 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 Medford?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Massachusetts (~$89,633/yr) supports up to $2,241 a month in rent. Medford's current median rent is $3,419/mo, which is $1,178/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Medford?
At an hourly equivalent of about $43 an hour, a police officer in Massachusetts works roughly 79.3 hours a month to cover Medford's median rent of $3,419.
Where is rent cheaper than Medford for a police officer?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Boston ($3,413/mo), Needham ($3,399/mo), Needham ($3,395/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.