Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Rockland, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55% of gross income.

Rockland rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Rockland median rent
$1,688/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Maine)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
55%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Rockland's median rent of $1,688 exceeds that threshold by $767/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 95.3 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 Rockland, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (54.8% of income)
Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (54.8% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,673/mo (54.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rockland

View full rent data for Rockland, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Rockland, ME?

Median rent in Rockland is $1,688 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Maine earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 55% 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 Rockland?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Maine (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Rockland's current median rent is $1,688/mo, which is $767/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Maine works roughly 95.3 hours a month to cover Rockland's median rent of $1,688.

Where is rent cheaper than Rockland for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Sanford ($1,681/mo), Sanford ($1,681/mo), Auburn ($1,673/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 Rockland, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.