Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Southfield, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.4% of gross income.

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

Southfield median rent
$1,533/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
48.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Southfield's median rent of $1,533 exceeds that threshold by $582/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 83.9 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 Southfield, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Walker, MI
$1,531/mo (48.3% of income)
Waterford, MI
$1,531/mo (48.3% of income)
Dearborn Heights, MI
$1,530/mo (48.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southfield

View full rent data for Southfield, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Southfield, MI?

Median rent in Southfield is $1,533 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 48.4% 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 Southfield?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Southfield's current median rent is $1,533/mo, which is $582/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover Southfield's median rent of $1,533.

Where is rent cheaper than Southfield for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Walker ($1,531/mo), Waterford ($1,531/mo), Dearborn Heights ($1,530/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 Southfield, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.