Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Rochester, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.5% of gross income.

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

Rochester median rent
$1,855/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
58.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $1,855 exceeds that threshold by $904/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 101.5 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 Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Northville, MI
$1,854/mo (58.5% of income)
Plymouth, MI
$1,853/mo (58.5% of income)
Traverse City, MI
$1,851/mo (58.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Rochester, MI?

Median rent in Rochester is $1,855 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 58.5% 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 Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,855/mo, which is $904/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 101.5 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,855.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Northville ($1,854/mo), Plymouth ($1,853/mo), Traverse City ($1,851/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 Rochester, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.