Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in New Castle, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.9% of gross income.

New Castle rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

New Castle median rent
$1,747/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Delaware)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
51.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $1,747 exceeds that threshold by $737/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 89.9 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than New Castle, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Wilmington, DE
$1,744/mo (51.8% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,739/mo (51.7% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,734/mo (51.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in New Castle, DE?

Median rent in New Castle is $1,747 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Delaware earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 51.9% 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 New Castle?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Delaware (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $1,747/mo, which is $737/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Delaware works roughly 89.9 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $1,747.

Where is rent cheaper than New Castle for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Wilmington ($1,744/mo), Wilmington ($1,739/mo), Wilmington ($1,734/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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