Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lexington, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.9% of gross income.

Lexington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Lexington median rent
$1,609/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
51.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $1,609 exceeds that threshold by $678/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 89.9 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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Aberdeen, NC
$1,608/mo (51.8% of income)
Raeford, NC
$1,608/mo (51.8% of income)
Waynesville, NC
$1,608/mo (51.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lexington, NC?

Median rent in Lexington is $1,609 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 51.9% 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 Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,609/mo, which is $678/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 89.9 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,609.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,608/mo), Raeford ($1,608/mo), Waynesville ($1,608/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 Lexington, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.