Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Waterford, MI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.9% of gross income.

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

Waterford median rent
$1,297/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Michigan)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
40.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Waterford's median rent of $1,297 exceeds that threshold by $346/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 70.9 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 Waterford, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Westland, MI
$1,296/mo (40.9% of income)
Harrison Township, MI
$1,296/mo (40.9% of income)
Pontiac, MI
$1,296/mo (40.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waterford

View full rent data for Waterford, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Waterford, MI?

Median rent in Waterford is $1,297 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Michigan earns about $38,026 a year, which makes that rent 40.9% 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 Waterford?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Michigan (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Waterford's current median rent is $1,297/mo, which is $346/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Michigan works roughly 70.9 hours a month to cover Waterford's median rent of $1,297.

Where is rent cheaper than Waterford for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Westland ($1,296/mo), Harrison Township ($1,296/mo), Pontiac ($1,296/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 Waterford, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.