Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in North Bergen Township, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.1% of gross income.

North Bergen Township rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

North Bergen Township median rent
$2,822/mo
Police Officer salary (New Jersey)
$86,542/yr
Rent as % of income
39.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,212, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,164/mo in rent. North Bergen Township's median rent of $2,822 exceeds that threshold by $658/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 67.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 North Bergen Township, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Red Bank, NJ
$2,821/mo (39.1% of income)
West Orange, NJ
$2,821/mo (39.1% of income)
Cranford, NJ
$2,821/mo (39.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Bergen Township

View full rent data for North Bergen Township, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in North Bergen Township, NJ?

Median rent in North Bergen Township is $2,822 a month. A typical police officer in New Jersey earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 39.1% 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 North Bergen Township?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in New Jersey (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. North Bergen Township's current median rent is $2,822/mo, which is $658/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in North Bergen Township?

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in New Jersey works roughly 67.8 hours a month to cover North Bergen Township's median rent of $2,822.

Where is rent cheaper than North Bergen Township for a police officer?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Red Bank ($2,821/mo), West Orange ($2,821/mo), Cranford ($2,821/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Jersey state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for North Bergen Township, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.