Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dakota Ridge, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.8% of gross income.

Dakota Ridge rent: February 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Dakota Ridge median rent
$1,727/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Colorado)
$41,591/yr
Rent as % of income
49.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,466, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,040/mo in rent. Dakota Ridge's median rent of $1,727 exceeds that threshold by $687/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 86.4 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 Dakota Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Evans, CO
$1,724/mo (49.7% of income)
Brighton, CO
$1,723/mo (49.7% of income)
Colorado Springs, CO
$1,723/mo (49.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dakota Ridge

View full rent data for Dakota Ridge, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dakota Ridge, CO?

Median rent in Dakota Ridge is $1,727 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Colorado earns about $41,591 a year, which makes that rent 49.8% 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 Dakota Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Colorado (~$41,591/yr) supports up to $1,040 a month in rent. Dakota Ridge's current median rent is $1,727/mo, which is $687/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Colorado works roughly 86.4 hours a month to cover Dakota Ridge's median rent of $1,727.

Where is rent cheaper than Dakota Ridge for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Evans ($1,724/mo), Brighton ($1,723/mo), Colorado Springs ($1,723/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 Dakota Ridge, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.