Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Fort Wayne, IN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.2% of gross income.

Fort Wayne rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Fort Wayne median rent
$1,281/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Indiana)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
42.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Fort Wayne's median rent of $1,281 exceeds that threshold by $370/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 73.1 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Fort Wayne, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Hobart, IN
$1,279/mo (42.1% of income)
Gary, IN
$1,272/mo (41.9% of income)
Shelbyville, IN
$1,272/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Wayne

View full rent data for Fort Wayne, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Fort Wayne, IN?

Median rent in Fort Wayne is $1,281 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Indiana earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 42.2% 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 Wayne?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Indiana (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Fort Wayne's current median rent is $1,281/mo, which is $370/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Indiana works roughly 73.1 hours a month to cover Fort Wayne's median rent of $1,281.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Wayne for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Hobart ($1,279/mo), Gary ($1,272/mo), Shelbyville ($1,272/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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