Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Battle Creek, MI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.8% of gross income.

Battle Creek rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Battle Creek median rent
$1,133/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
35.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Battle Creek's median rent of $1,133 exceeds that threshold by $182/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Battle Creek, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Mount Clemens, MI
$1,132/mo (35.7% of income)
Muskegon, MI
$1,131/mo (35.7% of income)
Muskegon, MI
$1,128/mo (35.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Battle Creek

View full rent data for Battle Creek, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Battle Creek, MI?

Median rent in Battle Creek is $1,133 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 35.8% 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 Battle Creek?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Battle Creek's current median rent is $1,133/mo, which is $182/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 62 hours a month to cover Battle Creek's median rent of $1,133.

Where is rent cheaper than Battle Creek for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Mount Clemens ($1,132/mo), Muskegon ($1,131/mo), Muskegon ($1,128/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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