Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Madison, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.8% of gross income.

Madison rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Madison median rent
$1,442/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alabama)
$34,065/yr
Rent as % of income
50.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,839, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Madison's median rent of $1,442 exceeds that threshold by $590/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 88 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 Madison, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Enterprise, AL
$1,441/mo (50.8% of income)
Enterprise, AL
$1,439/mo (50.7% of income)
Homewood, AL
$1,438/mo (50.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison

View full rent data for Madison, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Madison, AL?

Median rent in Madison is $1,442 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alabama earns about $34,065 a year, which makes that rent 50.8% 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 Madison?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alabama (~$34,065/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $1,442/mo, which is $590/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alabama works roughly 88 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $1,442.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Enterprise ($1,441/mo), Enterprise ($1,439/mo), Homewood ($1,438/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 Madison, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.