Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Indianola, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.5% of gross income.

Indianola rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Indianola median rent
$1,382/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Iowa)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
45.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Indianola's median rent of $1,382 exceeds that threshold by $471/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 78.9 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Indianola, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Grimes, IA
$1,379/mo (45.4% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,378/mo (45.4% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,376/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianola

View full rent data for Indianola, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Indianola, IA?

Median rent in Indianola is $1,382 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Iowa earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 45.5% 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 Indianola?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Iowa (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Indianola's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which is $471/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Iowa works roughly 78.9 hours a month to cover Indianola's median rent of $1,382.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianola for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Grimes ($1,379/mo), Grimes ($1,378/mo), Grimes ($1,376/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 Indianola, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.