Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Burlington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 86.9% of gross income.

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

Burlington median rent
$3,328/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
86.9%
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 $3,328 exceeds that threshold by $2,179/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 150.7 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:

Somerville, MA
$3,327/mo (86.9% of income)
Newton, MA
$3,326/mo (86.9% of income)
Somerville, MA
$3,325/mo (86.8% 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 $3,328 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 86.9% 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 $3,328/mo, which is $2,179/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 150.7 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $3,328.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,327/mo), Newton ($3,326/mo), Somerville ($3,325/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.