Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Gardner, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.8% of gross income.
Gardner rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Gardner, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Gardner
View full rent data for Gardner, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Gardner, MA?
Median rent in Gardner is $1,676 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 43.8% 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 Gardner?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Gardner's current median rent is $1,676/mo, which is $527/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Gardner?
At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 75.9 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,676.
Where is rent cheaper than Gardner for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Chicopee ($1,675/mo), Springfield ($1,673/mo), Holyoke ($1,669/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.