Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Saugus, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.2% of gross income.

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

Saugus median rent
$2,996/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
78.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Saugus's median rent of $2,996 exceeds that threshold by $1,847/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 135.6 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 Saugus, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Marblehead, MA
$2,995/mo (78.2% of income)
Bedford, MA
$2,994/mo (78.2% of income)
Watertown, MA
$2,991/mo (78.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saugus

View full rent data for Saugus, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Saugus, MA?

Median rent in Saugus is $2,996 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 78.2% 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 Saugus?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Saugus's current median rent is $2,996/mo, which is $1,847/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 135.6 hours a month to cover Saugus's median rent of $2,996.

Where is rent cheaper than Saugus for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Marblehead ($2,995/mo), Bedford ($2,994/mo), Watertown ($2,991/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 Saugus, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.