Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Newton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 96.2% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$3,685/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
96.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $3,685 exceeds that threshold by $2,536/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 166.8 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,661/mo (95.6% of income)
Boston, MA
$3,652/mo (95.4% of income)
Hingham, MA
$3,640/mo (95.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Newton, MA?

Median rent in Newton is $3,685 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 96.2% 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 Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $3,685/mo, which is $2,536/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 166.8 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $3,685.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,661/mo), Boston ($3,652/mo), Hingham ($3,640/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 Newton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.