Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kinston, NC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

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

Kinston median rent
$1,076/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Kinston's median rent of $1,076 exceeds that threshold by $145/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.1 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Kinston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Winston-Salem, NC
$1,071/mo (34.5% of income)
Asheboro, NC
$1,069/mo (34.5% of income)
Henderson, NC
$1,051/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kinston

View full rent data for Kinston, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kinston, NC?

Median rent in Kinston is $1,076 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% 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 Kinston?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Kinston's current median rent is $1,076/mo, which is $145/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover Kinston's median rent of $1,076.

Where is rent cheaper than Kinston for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Winston-Salem ($1,071/mo), Asheboro ($1,069/mo), Henderson ($1,051/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 Kinston, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.