Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lakewood, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 88.1% of gross income.

Lakewood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Lakewood median rent
$3,430/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
88.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $3,430 exceeds that threshold by $2,261/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 152.6 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 California cities have lower median rent than Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Eastvale, CA
$3,428/mo (88% of income)
Redondo Beach, CA
$3,428/mo (88% of income)
Redondo Beach, CA
$3,427/mo (88% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lakewood, CA?

Median rent in Lakewood is $3,430 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 88.1% 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 Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $3,430/mo, which is $2,261/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 152.6 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $3,430.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Eastvale ($3,428/mo), Redondo Beach ($3,428/mo), Redondo Beach ($3,427/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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