Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lexington, KY?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.4% of gross income.
Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).
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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lexington
View full rent data for Lexington, KY →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lexington, KY?
Median rent in Lexington is $1,551 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Kentucky earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 53.4% 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 Lexington?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Kentucky (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,551/mo, which is $680/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Lexington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Kentucky works roughly 92.6 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,551.
Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Nicholasville ($1,546/mo), Shepherdsville ($1,543/mo), Newport ($1,540/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.