Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Sterling, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.9% of gross income.

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

Sterling median rent
$1,070/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Colorado)
$41,591/yr
Rent as % of income
30.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,466, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,040/mo in rent. Sterling's median rent of $1,070 exceeds that threshold by $30/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 53.5 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 Sterling, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Pueblo, CO
$1,062/mo (30.6% of income)
Pueblo, CO
$959/mo (27.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sterling

View full rent data for Sterling, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Sterling, CO?

Median rent in Sterling is $1,070 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Colorado earns about $41,591 a year, which makes that rent 30.9% 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 Sterling?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Colorado (~$41,591/yr) supports up to $1,040 a month in rent. Sterling's current median rent is $1,070/mo, which is $30/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Colorado works roughly 53.5 hours a month to cover Sterling's median rent of $1,070.

Where is rent cheaper than Sterling for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Pueblo ($1,062/mo), Pueblo ($959/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 Sterling, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.