Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.6% of gross income.

Grand Forks rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Grand Forks median rent
$1,172/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (North Dakota)
$38,422/yr
Rent as % of income
36.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,202, and the 30% rule supports up to $961/mo in rent. Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172 exceeds that threshold by $211/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 63.4 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Grand Forks, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Mandan, ND
$1,143/mo (35.7% of income)
Jamestown, ND
$1,143/mo (35.7% of income)
Minot, ND
$1,143/mo (35.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Forks

View full rent data for Grand Forks, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Median rent in Grand Forks is $1,172 a month. A typical nursing assistant in North Dakota earns about $38,422 a year, which makes that rent 36.6% 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 Grand Forks?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in North Dakota (~$38,422/yr) supports up to $961 a month in rent. Grand Forks's current median rent is $1,172/mo, which is $211/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in North Dakota works roughly 63.4 hours a month to cover Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Forks for a nursing assistant?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,143/mo), Jamestown ($1,143/mo), Minot ($1,143/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived North Dakota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Grand Forks, ND. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.