Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.9% of gross income.

Fort Walton Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Fort Walton Beach median rent
$1,808/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Florida)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
58.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Fort Walton Beach's median rent of $1,808 exceeds that threshold by $887/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 102.1 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Fort Walton Beach, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Sanford, FL
$1,807/mo (58.9% of income)
Doctor Phillips, FL
$1,807/mo (58.9% of income)
Greater Northdale, FL
$1,807/mo (58.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Walton Beach

View full rent data for Fort Walton Beach, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Median rent in Fort Walton Beach is $1,808 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Florida earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 58.9% 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 Fort Walton Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Florida (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Fort Walton Beach's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $887/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Fort Walton Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Florida works roughly 102.1 hours a month to cover Fort Walton Beach's median rent of $1,808.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Walton Beach for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Sanford ($1,807/mo), Doctor Phillips ($1,807/mo), Greater Northdale ($1,807/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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