Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Barling, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.9% of gross income.

Barling rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Barling median rent
$1,092/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Arkansas)
$32,876/yr
Rent as % of income
39.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,740, and the 30% rule supports up to $822/mo in rent. Barling's median rent of $1,092 exceeds that threshold by $270/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 69.1 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Barling, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Sherwood, AR
$1,091/mo (39.8% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,086/mo (39.6% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,084/mo (39.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Barling

View full rent data for Barling, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Barling, AR?

Median rent in Barling is $1,092 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Arkansas earns about $32,876 a year, which makes that rent 39.9% 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 Barling?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Arkansas (~$32,876/yr) supports up to $822 a month in rent. Barling's current median rent is $1,092/mo, which is $270/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Arkansas works roughly 69.1 hours a month to cover Barling's median rent of $1,092.

Where is rent cheaper than Barling for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Sherwood ($1,091/mo), Mountain Home ($1,086/mo), Mountain Home ($1,084/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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