Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Burlington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 88.5% of gross income.

Burlington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$3,388/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
88.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $3,388 exceeds that threshold by $2,239/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 153.4 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Hingham, MA
$3,387/mo (88.5% of income)
Cambridge, MA
$3,381/mo (88.3% of income)
Needham, MA
$3,381/mo (88.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Burlington, MA?

Median rent in Burlington is $3,388 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 88.5% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $3,388/mo, which is $2,239/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 153.4 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $3,388.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Hingham ($3,387/mo), Cambridge ($3,381/mo), Needham ($3,381/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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