Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Prior Lake, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.7% of gross income.

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

Prior Lake median rent
$2,051/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
59.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Prior Lake's median rent of $2,051 exceeds that threshold by $1,021/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 103.6 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 Prior Lake, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Woodbury, MN
$2,049/mo (59.7% of income)
Vadnais Heights, MN
$2,046/mo (59.6% of income)
Maple Grove, MN
$2,042/mo (59.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Prior Lake

View full rent data for Prior Lake, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Prior Lake, MN?

Median rent in Prior Lake is $2,051 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 59.7% 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 Prior Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Prior Lake's current median rent is $2,051/mo, which is $1,021/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 103.6 hours a month to cover Prior Lake's median rent of $2,051.

Where is rent cheaper than Prior Lake for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Woodbury ($2,049/mo), Vadnais Heights ($2,046/mo), Maple Grove ($2,042/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 Prior Lake, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.