Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in North Bend, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

North Bend rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

North Bend median rent
$3,269/mo
Police Officer salary (Washington)
$86,542/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,212, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,164/mo in rent. North Bend's median rent of $3,269 exceeds that threshold by $1,105/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 78.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than North Bend, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Sammamish, WA
$3,185/mo (44.2% of income)
Sammamish, WA
$3,181/mo (44.1% of income)
Snoqualmie, WA
$3,173/mo (44% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Bend

View full rent data for North Bend, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in North Bend, WA?

Median rent in North Bend is $3,269 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Bend?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. North Bend's current median rent is $3,269/mo, which is $1,105/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover North Bend's median rent of $3,269.

Where is rent cheaper than North Bend for a police officer?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sammamish ($3,185/mo), Sammamish ($3,181/mo), Snoqualmie ($3,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

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