Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Burlington, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.8% of gross income.

Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$1,298/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
41.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $1,298 exceeds that threshold by $367/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 72.5 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Greenville, NC
$1,296/mo (41.8% of income)
Greenville, NC
$1,296/mo (41.8% of income)
Rocky Mount, NC
$1,294/mo (41.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Burlington, NC?

Median rent in Burlington is $1,298 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 41.8% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $1,298/mo, which is $367/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 72.5 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $1,298.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Greenville ($1,296/mo), Greenville ($1,296/mo), Rocky Mount ($1,294/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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