Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Whitefish, MT?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.9% of gross income.
Whitefish rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Whitefish, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Whitefish
View full rent data for Whitefish, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Whitefish, MT?
Median rent in Whitefish is $2,712 a month. A typical police officer in Montana earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 47.9% 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 Whitefish?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Montana (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Whitefish's current median rent is $2,712/mo, which is $1,012/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Whitefish?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Montana works roughly 83 hours a month to cover Whitefish's median rent of $2,712.
Where is rent cheaper than Whitefish for a police officer?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Bozeman ($2,227/mo), Bozeman ($2,224/mo), Belgrade ($2,223/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.