Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Canton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.6% of gross income.

Canton rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Canton median rent
$3,008/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
78.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Canton's median rent of $3,008 exceeds that threshold by $1,859/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 136.2 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 Canton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Newburyport, MA
$3,007/mo (78.5% of income)
Marblehead, MA
$3,007/mo (78.5% of income)
Lynnfield, MA
$3,006/mo (78.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Canton

View full rent data for Canton, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Canton, MA?

Median rent in Canton is $3,008 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 78.6% 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 Canton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Canton's current median rent is $3,008/mo, which is $1,859/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 136.2 hours a month to cover Canton's median rent of $3,008.

Where is rent cheaper than Canton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Newburyport ($3,007/mo), Marblehead ($3,007/mo), Lynnfield ($3,006/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 Canton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.