Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Moorhead, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.6% of gross income.

Moorhead rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Moorhead median rent
$1,258/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
36.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Moorhead's median rent of $1,258 exceeds that threshold by $228/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 63.5 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Moorhead, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Winona, MN
$1,255/mo (36.6% of income)
Richfield, MN
$1,254/mo (36.5% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,252/mo (36.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moorhead

View full rent data for Moorhead, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Moorhead, MN?

Median rent in Moorhead is $1,258 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 36.6% 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 Moorhead?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Moorhead's current median rent is $1,258/mo, which is $228/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 63.5 hours a month to cover Moorhead's median rent of $1,258.

Where is rent cheaper than Moorhead for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Winona ($1,255/mo), Richfield ($1,254/mo), Saint Cloud ($1,252/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Minnesota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Moorhead, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.