Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.5% of gross income.

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

Indianapolis median rent
$1,411/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Indiana)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
46.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411 exceeds that threshold by $500/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 80.5 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 Indianapolis, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Portage, IN
$1,410/mo (46.4% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,409/mo (46.4% of income)
Portage, IN
$1,406/mo (46.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianapolis

View full rent data for Indianapolis, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Median rent in Indianapolis is $1,411 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Indiana earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 46.5% 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 Indianapolis?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Indiana (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Indianapolis's current median rent is $1,411/mo, which is $500/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Indiana works roughly 80.5 hours a month to cover Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianapolis for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Portage ($1,410/mo), Hammond ($1,409/mo), Portage ($1,406/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 Indianapolis, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.