Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lewiston, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.2% of gross income.

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

Lewiston median rent
$1,480/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Maine)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
48.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $559/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 83.6 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bangor, ME
$1,477/mo (48.1% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,460/mo (47.6% of income)
Augusta, ME
$1,458/mo (47.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lewiston, ME?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,480 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Maine earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 48.2% 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 Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Maine (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $559/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Maine works roughly 83.6 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Bangor ($1,477/mo), Bangor ($1,460/mo), Augusta ($1,458/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 Lewiston, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.