Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in New Bern, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.7% of gross income.

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

New Bern median rent
$1,605/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
51.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. New Bern's median rent of $1,605 exceeds that threshold by $674/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 89.7 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 New Bern, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Aberdeen, NC
$1,604/mo (51.7% of income)
Carrboro, NC
$1,604/mo (51.7% of income)
Weaverville, NC
$1,603/mo (51.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Bern

View full rent data for New Bern, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in New Bern, NC?

Median rent in New Bern is $1,605 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 51.7% 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 New Bern?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. New Bern's current median rent is $1,605/mo, which is $674/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 89.7 hours a month to cover New Bern's median rent of $1,605.

Where is rent cheaper than New Bern for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,604/mo), Carrboro ($1,604/mo), Weaverville ($1,603/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 New Bern, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.