Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.5% of gross income.

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

Highlands Ranch median rent
$2,650/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Colorado)
$41,591/yr
Rent as % of income
76.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,466, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,040/mo in rent. Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650 exceeds that threshold by $1,610/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 132.5 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 Highlands Ranch, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (76.2% of income)
Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (76.2% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,634/mo (76% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highlands Ranch

View full rent data for Highlands Ranch, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Median rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,650 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Colorado earns about $41,591 a year, which makes that rent 76.5% 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 Highlands Ranch?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Colorado (~$41,591/yr) supports up to $1,040 a month in rent. Highlands Ranch's current median rent is $2,650/mo, which is $1,610/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Colorado works roughly 132.5 hours a month to cover Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650.

Where is rent cheaper than Highlands Ranch for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Louisville ($2,634/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 Highlands Ranch, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.