Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Wellesley, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 101% of gross income.

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

Wellesley median rent
$3,868/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$45,948/yr
Rent as % of income
101%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,829, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,149/mo in rent. Wellesley's median rent of $3,868 exceeds that threshold by $2,719/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 175.1 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 Wellesley, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Winchester, MA
$3,776/mo (98.6% of income)
Brookline, MA
$3,768/mo (98.4% of income)
Lexington, MA
$3,768/mo (98.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wellesley

View full rent data for Wellesley, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Wellesley, MA?

Median rent in Wellesley is $3,868 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Massachusetts earns about $45,948 a year, which makes that rent 101% 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 Wellesley?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$45,948/yr) supports up to $1,149 a month in rent. Wellesley's current median rent is $3,868/mo, which is $2,719/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 175.1 hours a month to cover Wellesley's median rent of $3,868.

Where is rent cheaper than Wellesley for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Winchester ($3,776/mo), Brookline ($3,768/mo), Lexington ($3,768/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 Wellesley, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.