Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dedham, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 84.3% of gross income.

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

Dedham median rent
$3,226/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
84.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Dedham's median rent of $3,226 exceeds that threshold by $2,077/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 146 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 Dedham, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Lexington, MA
$3,225/mo (84.2% of income)
Belmont, MA
$3,223/mo (84.2% of income)
Wilmington, MA
$3,218/mo (84% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dedham

View full rent data for Dedham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dedham, MA?

Median rent in Dedham is $3,226 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 84.3% 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 Dedham?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Dedham's current median rent is $3,226/mo, which is $2,077/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 146 hours a month to cover Dedham's median rent of $3,226.

Where is rent cheaper than Dedham for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Lexington ($3,225/mo), Belmont ($3,223/mo), Wilmington ($3,218/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 Dedham, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.