Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in West Lafayette, IN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.6% of gross income.

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

West Lafayette median rent
$1,841/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Indiana)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
60.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. West Lafayette's median rent of $1,841 exceeds that threshold by $930/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 105.1 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 West Lafayette, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Westfield, IN
$1,840/mo (60.6% of income)
Brownsburg, IN
$1,838/mo (60.5% of income)
Fishers, IN
$1,837/mo (60.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Lafayette

View full rent data for West Lafayette, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in West Lafayette, IN?

Median rent in West Lafayette is $1,841 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Indiana earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 60.6% 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 West Lafayette?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Indiana (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. West Lafayette's current median rent is $1,841/mo, which is $930/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Indiana works roughly 105.1 hours a month to cover West Lafayette's median rent of $1,841.

Where is rent cheaper than West Lafayette for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Westfield ($1,840/mo), Brownsburg ($1,838/mo), Fishers ($1,837/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 West Lafayette, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.