Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Rochester, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.5% of gross income.

Rochester rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Rochester median rent
$1,820/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Hampshire)
$40,798/yr
Rent as % of income
53.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,400, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,020/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $1,820 exceeds that threshold by $800/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 92.8 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Keene, NH
$1,819/mo (53.5% of income)
Exeter, NH
$1,816/mo (53.4% of income)
Keene, NH
$1,816/mo (53.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, NH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Rochester, NH?

Median rent in Rochester is $1,820 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Hampshire earns about $40,798 a year, which makes that rent 53.5% 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 Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Hampshire (~$40,798/yr) supports up to $1,020 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,820/mo, which is $800/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Hampshire works roughly 92.8 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,820.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Keene ($1,819/mo), Exeter ($1,816/mo), Keene ($1,816/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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