Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Gloucester, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.2% of gross income.

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

Gloucester median rent
$2,574/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
67.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Gloucester's median rent of $2,574 exceeds that threshold by $1,425/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 116.5 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 Gloucester, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Melrose, MA
$2,572/mo (67.2% of income)
Maynard, MA
$2,571/mo (67.1% of income)
Amherst, MA
$2,570/mo (67.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gloucester

View full rent data for Gloucester, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Gloucester, MA?

Median rent in Gloucester is $2,574 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 67.2% 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 Gloucester?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Gloucester's current median rent is $2,574/mo, which is $1,425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 116.5 hours a month to cover Gloucester's median rent of $2,574.

Where is rent cheaper than Gloucester for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Melrose ($2,572/mo), Maynard ($2,571/mo), Amherst ($2,570/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 Gloucester, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.