Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Salem, NH?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.5% of gross income.
Salem rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Salem
View full rent data for Salem, NH →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Salem, NH?
Median rent in Salem is $2,621 a month. A typical police officer in New Hampshire earns about $79,588 a year, which makes that rent 39.5% 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 Salem?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in New Hampshire (~$79,588/yr) supports up to $1,990 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $2,621/mo, which is $631/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Salem?
At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a police officer in New Hampshire works roughly 68.5 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $2,621.
Where is rent cheaper than Salem for a police officer?
Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($2,618/mo), Lebanon ($2,614/mo), Hooksett ($2,608/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.