Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Watford City, ND?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.2% of gross income.
Watford City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Watford City, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Watford City
View full rent data for Watford City, ND →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Watford City, ND?
Median rent in Watford City is $1,322 a month. A typical police officer in North Dakota earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 21.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Watford City?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in North Dakota (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. Watford City's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which leaves a $552/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Watford City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in North Dakota works roughly 36.7 hours a month to cover Watford City's median rent of $1,322.
Where is rent cheaper than Watford City for a police officer?
Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,321/mo), Bismarck ($1,318/mo), Bismarck ($1,316/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.