Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Colchester, VT?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.
Colchester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont 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 Vermont cities have lower median rent than Colchester, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Colchester
View full rent data for Colchester, VT →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Colchester, VT?
Median rent in Colchester is $2,292 a month. A typical police officer in Vermont earns about $74,952 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 Colchester?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Vermont (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. Colchester's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $418/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Colchester?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Vermont works roughly 63.6 hours a month to cover Colchester's median rent of $2,292.
Where is rent cheaper than Colchester for a police officer?
Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include South Burlington ($2,289/mo), South Burlington ($2,259/mo), Hartford ($2,225/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.