Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.6% of gross income.

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

Wilmington median rent
$1,872/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Delaware)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
55.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $1,872 exceeds that threshold by $862/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 96.4 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

New Castle, DE
$1,747/mo (51.9% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,726/mo (51.3% of income)
Dover, DE
$1,726/mo (51.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

View full rent data for Wilmington, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Wilmington, DE?

Median rent in Wilmington is $1,872 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Delaware earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 55.6% 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 Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Delaware (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $862/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Delaware works roughly 96.4 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,872.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include New Castle ($1,747/mo), New Castle ($1,726/mo), Dover ($1,726/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 Wilmington, DE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.