Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Burlington, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.6% of gross income.

Burlington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$991/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Iowa)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
32.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $991 exceeds that threshold by $80/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 56.6 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Knoxville, IA
$987/mo (32.5% of income)
Newton, IA
$983/mo (32.4% of income)
Newton, IA
$982/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Burlington, IA?

Median rent in Burlington is $991 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Iowa earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 32.6% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Iowa (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $991/mo, which is $80/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Iowa works roughly 56.6 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $991.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($987/mo), Newton ($983/mo), Newton ($982/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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