Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Richmond, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.6% of gross income.

Richmond rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Richmond median rent
$1,179/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Kentucky)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
40.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $1,179 exceeds that threshold by $308/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 70.4 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 Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Morehead, KY
$1,165/mo (40.1% of income)
Paducah, KY
$1,164/mo (40.1% of income)
Oak Grove, KY
$1,163/mo (40% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Richmond, KY?

Median rent in Richmond is $1,179 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Kentucky earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 40.6% 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 Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Kentucky (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $1,179/mo, which is $308/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Kentucky works roughly 70.4 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,179.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Morehead ($1,165/mo), Paducah ($1,164/mo), Oak Grove ($1,163/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 Richmond, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.