Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.6% of gross income.

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

Southern Pines median rent
$1,879/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Carolina)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
60.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Southern Pines's median rent of $1,879 exceeds that threshold by $948/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 105 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 Southern Pines, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Pinehurst, NC
$1,878/mo (60.5% of income)
Sherrills Ford, NC
$1,878/mo (60.5% of income)
Holly Springs, NC
$1,878/mo (60.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southern Pines

View full rent data for Southern Pines, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Median rent in Southern Pines is $1,879 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Carolina earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 60.6% 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 Southern Pines?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Carolina (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Southern Pines's current median rent is $1,879/mo, which is $948/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Carolina works roughly 105 hours a month to cover Southern Pines's median rent of $1,879.

Where is rent cheaper than Southern Pines for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Pinehurst ($1,878/mo), Sherrills Ford ($1,878/mo), Holly Springs ($1,878/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 Southern Pines, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.