Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Medford, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 89.3% of gross income.

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

Medford median rent
$3,419/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
89.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Medford's median rent of $3,419 exceeds that threshold by $2,270/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 154.8 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 Medford, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Boston, MA
$3,413/mo (89.1% of income)
Needham, MA
$3,399/mo (88.8% of income)
Needham, MA
$3,395/mo (88.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Medford

View full rent data for Medford, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Medford, MA?

Median rent in Medford is $3,419 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 89.3% 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 Medford?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Medford's current median rent is $3,419/mo, which is $2,270/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 154.8 hours a month to cover Medford's median rent of $3,419.

Where is rent cheaper than Medford for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Boston ($3,413/mo), Needham ($3,399/mo), Needham ($3,395/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 Medford, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.