Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Waldorf, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.1% of gross income.

Waldorf rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Waldorf median rent
$2,249/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Maryland)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
63.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Waldorf's median rent of $2,249 exceeds that threshold by $1,180/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 109.4 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 Waldorf, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Gaithersburg, MD
$2,248/mo (63.1% of income)
Gaithersburg, MD
$2,246/mo (63% of income)
Ellicott City, MD
$2,245/mo (63% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waldorf

View full rent data for Waldorf, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Waldorf, MD?

Median rent in Waldorf is $2,249 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Maryland earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 63.1% 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 Waldorf?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Maryland (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Waldorf's current median rent is $2,249/mo, which is $1,180/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Maryland works roughly 109.4 hours a month to cover Waldorf's median rent of $2,249.

Where is rent cheaper than Waldorf for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Gaithersburg ($2,248/mo), Gaithersburg ($2,246/mo), Ellicott City ($2,245/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 Waldorf, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.