Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Oxford, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.3% of gross income.

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

Oxford median rent
$1,116/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alabama)
$34,065/yr
Rent as % of income
39.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,839, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Oxford's median rent of $1,116 exceeds that threshold by $264/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 68.1 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 Oxford, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Dothan, AL
$1,114/mo (39.2% of income)
Jacksonville, AL
$1,107/mo (39% of income)
Jacksonville, AL
$1,101/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oxford

View full rent data for Oxford, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Oxford, AL?

Median rent in Oxford is $1,116 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alabama earns about $34,065 a year, which makes that rent 39.3% 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 Oxford?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alabama (~$34,065/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Oxford's current median rent is $1,116/mo, which is $264/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alabama works roughly 68.1 hours a month to cover Oxford's median rent of $1,116.

Where is rent cheaper than Oxford for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Dothan ($1,114/mo), Jacksonville ($1,107/mo), Jacksonville ($1,101/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 Oxford, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.