Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Auburn, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49% of gross income.

Auburn rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Auburn median rent
$1,503/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Maine)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
49%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Auburn's median rent of $1,503 exceeds that threshold by $582/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 84.9 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Auburn, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Lewiston, ME
$1,480/mo (48.2% of income)
Lewiston, ME
$1,479/mo (48.2% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,477/mo (48.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Auburn

View full rent data for Auburn, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Auburn, ME?

Median rent in Auburn is $1,503 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Maine earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 49% 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 Auburn?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Maine (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Auburn's current median rent is $1,503/mo, which is $582/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Maine works roughly 84.9 hours a month to cover Auburn's median rent of $1,503.

Where is rent cheaper than Auburn for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Lewiston ($1,480/mo), Lewiston ($1,479/mo), Bangor ($1,477/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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