Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Grimes, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45% of gross income.

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

Grimes median rent
$1,367/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Iowa)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
45%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Grimes's median rent of $1,367 exceeds that threshold by $456/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 78 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 Grimes, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Cedar Falls, IA
$1,365/mo (44.9% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,355/mo (44.6% of income)
North Liberty, IA
$1,354/mo (44.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grimes

View full rent data for Grimes, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Grimes, IA?

Median rent in Grimes is $1,367 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Iowa earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 45% 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 Grimes?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Iowa (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Grimes's current median rent is $1,367/mo, which is $456/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Iowa works roughly 78 hours a month to cover Grimes's median rent of $1,367.

Where is rent cheaper than Grimes for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Falls ($1,365/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,355/mo), North Liberty ($1,354/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 Grimes, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.