25 Best Cities for Police Officers in 2026
Police officers must live in or near the jurisdictions they serve, making local affordability and community environment critical career factors. We ranked metros on affordability relative to public safety wages, job stability, and the overall safety environment, since working conditions are directly shaped by the community context.
Methodology
Scoring weights: rent-to-income ratio (40%, inverted), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (20%, inverted), median income (15%).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Unemployment
2.1%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Unemployment
2.0%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Unemployment
2.0%
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Unemployment
2.3%
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Unemployment
1.9%
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Violent Crime
107/100k
Unemployment
2.4%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Violent Crime
150/100k
Unemployment
3.0%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Unemployment
2.5%
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Violent Crime
210/100k
Unemployment
1.6%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Violent Crime
102/100k
Unemployment
2.2%
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Violent Crime
350/100k
Unemployment
1.7%
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Unemployment
1.9%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Unemployment
2.3%
Grand Forks
North Dakota
Median Income
$71,529
Median Rent
$908/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Unemployment
2.2%
Grand Island
Nebraska
Median Income
$70,919
Median Rent
$947/mo
Violent Crime
230/100k
Unemployment
2.2%
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
Median Income
$72,902
Median Rent
$895/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Unemployment
2.3%
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Unemployment
2.5%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Unemployment
2.5%
Manitowoc
Wisconsin
Median Income
$68,297
Median Rent
$752/mo
Violent Crime
289/100k
Unemployment
2.7%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Violent Crime
426/100k
Unemployment
2.0%
Minot
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,073
Median Rent
$985/mo
Violent Crime
267/100k
Unemployment
2.1%
Lincoln
Nebraska
Median Income
$71,163
Median Rent
$1,018/mo
Violent Crime
230/100k
Unemployment
2.1%
Faribault-Northfield
Minnesota
Median Income
$81,455
Median Rent
$1,028/mo
Violent Crime
261/100k
Unemployment
2.8%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Violent Crime
232/100k
Unemployment
2.4%
Putnam
Connecticut
Median Income
$88,806
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Violent Crime
150/100k
Unemployment
3.3%
Frequently Asked Questions
Do police officers have to live in the city they serve?
Many departments have residency requirements, though these vary widely. Some require living within city limits, others within the county, and many have relaxed requirements in recent years to expand the applicant pool.
Which cities pay police officers the most?
Major metros like San Jose, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle pay the highest base salaries, often $80,000 to $120,000 or more for experienced officers. However, these cities also have very high costs of living.
How do police benefits compare to private sector jobs?
Police departments typically offer defined-benefit pension plans, strong health insurance, and early retirement eligibility (often at 20 to 25 years of service), making total compensation significantly higher than base salary alone.