Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Pelham, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.7% of gross income.

Pelham rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Pelham median rent
$1,808/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alabama)
$34,065/yr
Rent as % of income
63.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,839, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Pelham's median rent of $1,808 exceeds that threshold by $956/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 110.4 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 Pelham, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Vestavia Hills, AL
$1,807/mo (63.7% of income)
Helena, AL
$1,806/mo (63.6% of income)
Moody, AL
$1,806/mo (63.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pelham

View full rent data for Pelham, AL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Pelham, AL?

Median rent in Pelham is $1,808 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alabama earns about $34,065 a year, which makes that rent 63.7% 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 Pelham?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alabama (~$34,065/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Pelham's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $956/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alabama works roughly 110.4 hours a month to cover Pelham's median rent of $1,808.

Where is rent cheaper than Pelham for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Vestavia Hills ($1,807/mo), Helena ($1,806/mo), Moody ($1,806/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 Pelham, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.