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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.2% of gross income.

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

Dearborn Heights median rent
$1,465/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
46.2%
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 $1,465 exceeds that threshold by $514/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 80.1 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:

Sterling Heights, MI
$1,463/mo (46.2% of income)
Grosse Pointe Park, MI
$1,463/mo (46.2% of income)
Fenton, MI
$1,462/mo (46.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dearborn Heights

View full rent data for Dearborn Heights, MI

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Dearborn Heights is $1,465 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 46.2% 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 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 $1,465/mo, which is $514/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 80.1 hours a month to cover Dearborn Heights's median rent of $1,465.

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

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Sterling Heights ($1,463/mo), Grosse Pointe Park ($1,463/mo), Fenton ($1,462/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.