Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Birmingham, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 101.6% of gross income.

Birmingham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Birmingham median rent
$3,221/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
101.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Birmingham's median rent of $3,221 exceeds that threshold by $2,270/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 176.2 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 Birmingham, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bloomfield Hills, MI
$2,995/mo (94.5% of income)
Bloomfield Hills, MI
$2,960/mo (93.4% of income)
Bloomfield Hills, MI
$2,944/mo (92.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Birmingham

View full rent data for Birmingham, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Birmingham, MI?

Median rent in Birmingham is $3,221 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 101.6% 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 Birmingham?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Birmingham's current median rent is $3,221/mo, which is $2,270/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 176.2 hours a month to cover Birmingham's median rent of $3,221.

Where is rent cheaper than Birmingham for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Bloomfield Hills ($2,995/mo), Bloomfield Hills ($2,960/mo), Bloomfield Hills ($2,944/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 Birmingham, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.