Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Cortez, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.2% of gross income.

Cortez rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Cortez median rent
$1,567/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Colorado)
$41,591/yr
Rent as % of income
45.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,466, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,040/mo in rent. Cortez's median rent of $1,567 exceeds that threshold by $527/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 78.4 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Cortez, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Longmont, CO
$1,559/mo (45% of income)
Northglenn, CO
$1,557/mo (44.9% of income)
Fort Collins, CO
$1,544/mo (44.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cortez

View full rent data for Cortez, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Cortez, CO?

Median rent in Cortez is $1,567 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Colorado earns about $41,591 a year, which makes that rent 45.2% 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 Cortez?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Colorado (~$41,591/yr) supports up to $1,040 a month in rent. Cortez's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which is $527/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Colorado works roughly 78.4 hours a month to cover Cortez's median rent of $1,567.

Where is rent cheaper than Cortez for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Longmont ($1,559/mo), Northglenn ($1,557/mo), Fort Collins ($1,544/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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