Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Waterloo, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.
Waterloo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
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 Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterloo
View full rent data for Waterloo, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Waterloo, IA?
Median rent in Waterloo is $898 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Iowa earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Waterloo?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Iowa (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $898/mo, which leaves a $13/mo buffer.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Waterloo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Iowa works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $898.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($897/mo), Marshalltown ($893/mo), Newton ($887/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.