Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Norwood, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.8% of gross income.

Norwood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Norwood median rent
$2,519/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
65.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Norwood's median rent of $2,519 exceeds that threshold by $1,370/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 114 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 Norwood, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Milford, MA
$2,518/mo (65.8% of income)
Shrewsbury, MA
$2,518/mo (65.8% of income)
Maynard, MA
$2,517/mo (65.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Norwood

View full rent data for Norwood, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Norwood, MA?

Median rent in Norwood is $2,519 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 65.8% 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 Norwood?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Norwood's current median rent is $2,519/mo, which is $1,370/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 114 hours a month to cover Norwood's median rent of $2,519.

Where is rent cheaper than Norwood for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Milford ($2,518/mo), Shrewsbury ($2,518/mo), Maynard ($2,517/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 Norwood, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.