Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Forked River, NJ?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.
Forked River rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey 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 Jersey cities have lower median rent than Forked River, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Forked River
View full rent data for Forked River, NJ →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Forked River, NJ?
Median rent in Forked River is $2,650 a month. A typical police officer in New Jersey earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% 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 Forked River?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in New Jersey (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Forked River's current median rent is $2,650/mo, which is $486/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Forked River?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in New Jersey works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover Forked River's median rent of $2,650.
Where is rent cheaper than Forked River for a police officer?
Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Edison ($2,648/mo), Lawrence Township ($2,648/mo), Branchburg Township ($2,648/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.