Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in West Saint Paul, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.6% of gross income.

West Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

West Saint Paul median rent
$1,428/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
41.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. West Saint Paul's median rent of $1,428 exceeds that threshold by $398/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 72.1 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 West Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,427/mo (41.6% of income)
Roseville, MN
$1,427/mo (41.6% of income)
Fridley, MN
$1,426/mo (41.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Saint Paul

View full rent data for West Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in West Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in West Saint Paul is $1,428 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Minnesota earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 41.6% 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 West Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Minnesota (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. West Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,428/mo, which is $398/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in West Saint Paul?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Minnesota works roughly 72.1 hours a month to cover West Saint Paul's median rent of $1,428.

Where is rent cheaper than West Saint Paul for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,427/mo), Roseville ($1,427/mo), Fridley ($1,426/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 West Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.