Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dearborn Heights, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.7% of gross income.

Dearborn Heights rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Dearborn Heights median rent
$1,447/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
45.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Dearborn Heights's median rent of $1,447 exceeds that threshold by $496/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 79.2 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 Dearborn Heights, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Southgate, MI
$1,446/mo (45.6% of income)
Eastpointe, MI
$1,445/mo (45.6% of income)
Wyoming, MI
$1,445/mo (45.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dearborn Heights

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Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dearborn Heights, MI?

Median rent in Dearborn Heights is $1,447 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 45.7% 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 Dearborn Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Dearborn Heights's current median rent is $1,447/mo, which is $496/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 79.2 hours a month to cover Dearborn Heights's median rent of $1,447.

Where is rent cheaper than Dearborn Heights for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Southgate ($1,446/mo), Eastpointe ($1,445/mo), Wyoming ($1,445/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 Dearborn Heights, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.