Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Independence, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 73.8% of gross income.

Independence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Independence median rent
$2,143/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Kentucky)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
73.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Independence's median rent of $2,143 exceeds that threshold by $1,272/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 127.9 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Independence, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Burlington, KY
$2,136/mo (73.5% of income)
Burlington, KY
$2,106/mo (72.5% of income)
La Grange, KY
$2,096/mo (72.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Independence

View full rent data for Independence, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Independence, KY?

Median rent in Independence is $2,143 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Kentucky earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 73.8% 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 Independence?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Kentucky (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Independence's current median rent is $2,143/mo, which is $1,272/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Kentucky works roughly 127.9 hours a month to cover Independence's median rent of $2,143.

Where is rent cheaper than Independence for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Burlington ($2,136/mo), Burlington ($2,106/mo), La Grange ($2,096/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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