Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lake Station, IN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.7% of gross income.

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

Lake Station median rent
$1,450/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Indiana)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
47.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Lake Station's median rent of $1,450 exceeds that threshold by $539/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 82.8 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 Lake Station, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bloomington, IN
$1,449/mo (47.7% of income)
Schererville, IN
$1,449/mo (47.7% of income)
Bloomington, IN
$1,448/mo (47.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Station

View full rent data for Lake Station, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lake Station, IN?

Median rent in Lake Station is $1,450 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Indiana earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 47.7% 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 Lake Station?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Indiana (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Lake Station's current median rent is $1,450/mo, which is $539/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Indiana works roughly 82.8 hours a month to cover Lake Station's median rent of $1,450.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Station for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Bloomington ($1,449/mo), Schererville ($1,449/mo), Bloomington ($1,448/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 Lake Station, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.