Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lenoir, NC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.3% of gross income.

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

Lenoir median rent
$1,218/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
39.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Lenoir's median rent of $1,218 exceeds that threshold by $287/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 68 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 Lenoir, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Salisbury, NC
$1,215/mo (39.2% of income)
Thomasville, NC
$1,212/mo (39.1% of income)
Rocky Mount, NC
$1,209/mo (39% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lenoir

View full rent data for Lenoir, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lenoir, NC?

Median rent in Lenoir is $1,218 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 39.3% 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 Lenoir?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Lenoir's current median rent is $1,218/mo, which is $287/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 68 hours a month to cover Lenoir's median rent of $1,218.

Where is rent cheaper than Lenoir for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Salisbury ($1,215/mo), Thomasville ($1,212/mo), Rocky Mount ($1,209/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 Lenoir, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.