Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in West Fargo, ND?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.6% of gross income.
West Fargo 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 West Fargo, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for West Fargo
View full rent data for West Fargo, ND →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in West Fargo, ND?
Median rent in West Fargo is $1,350 a month. A typical police officer in North Dakota earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 21.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in West Fargo?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in North Dakota (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. West Fargo's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which leaves a $524/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in West Fargo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in North Dakota works roughly 37.5 hours a month to cover West Fargo's median rent of $1,350.
Where is rent cheaper than West Fargo for a police officer?
Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Bismarck ($1,349/mo), Bismarck ($1,340/mo), Bismarck ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.