Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Towson, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.7% of gross income.

Towson rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Towson median rent
$1,915/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Maryland)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
53.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Towson's median rent of $1,915 exceeds that threshold by $846/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 93.1 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Towson, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Elkton, MD
$1,913/mo (53.7% of income)
Laurel, MD
$1,912/mo (53.6% of income)
Laurel, MD
$1,911/mo (53.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Towson

View full rent data for Towson, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Towson, MD?

Median rent in Towson is $1,915 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Maryland earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 53.7% 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 Towson?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Maryland (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Towson's current median rent is $1,915/mo, which is $846/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Maryland works roughly 93.1 hours a month to cover Towson's median rent of $1,915.

Where is rent cheaper than Towson for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Elkton ($1,913/mo), Laurel ($1,912/mo), Laurel ($1,911/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Towson, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.