Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Fairhope, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 73% of gross income.

Fairhope rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Fairhope median rent
$2,073/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alabama)
$34,065/yr
Rent as % of income
73%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,839, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Fairhope's median rent of $2,073 exceeds that threshold by $1,221/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 126.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Fairhope, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Chelsea, AL
$2,068/mo (72.8% of income)
Chelsea, AL
$2,068/mo (72.8% of income)
Vestavia Hills, AL
$2,049/mo (72.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairhope

View full rent data for Fairhope, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Fairhope, AL?

Median rent in Fairhope is $2,073 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alabama earns about $34,065 a year, which makes that rent 73% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Fairhope?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alabama (~$34,065/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Fairhope's current median rent is $2,073/mo, which is $1,221/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Fairhope?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alabama works roughly 126.6 hours a month to cover Fairhope's median rent of $2,073.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairhope for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Chelsea ($2,068/mo), Chelsea ($2,068/mo), Vestavia Hills ($2,049/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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