Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Clifton, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 71.9% of gross income.

Clifton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Clifton median rent
$2,657/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
71.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $2,657 exceeds that threshold by $1,548/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 124.6 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 Jersey cities have lower median rent than Clifton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bridgewater Township, NJ
$2,656/mo (71.8% of income)
Lawrence Township, NJ
$2,655/mo (71.8% of income)
Old Bridge, NJ
$2,654/mo (71.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Clifton, NJ?

Median rent in Clifton is $2,657 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 71.9% 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 Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $2,657/mo, which is $1,548/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 124.6 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $2,657.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Bridgewater Township ($2,656/mo), Lawrence Township ($2,655/mo), Old Bridge ($2,654/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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