Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Somerset, NJ?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.
Somerset rent: June 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 Somerset, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Somerset
View full rent data for Somerset, NJ →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Somerset, NJ?
Median rent in Somerset is $2,720 a month. A typical police officer in New Jersey earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Somerset?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in New Jersey (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Somerset's current median rent is $2,720/mo, which is $556/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Somerset?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in New Jersey works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Somerset's median rent of $2,720.
Where is rent cheaper than Somerset for a police officer?
Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Long Branch ($2,719/mo), Bridgewater Township ($2,719/mo), Maplewood ($2,718/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.