Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Cranford, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.8% of gross income.

Cranford rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Cranford median rent
$3,023/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
81.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Cranford's median rent of $3,023 exceeds that threshold by $1,914/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 141.7 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Cranford, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bridgewater Township, NJ
$3,022/mo (81.7% of income)
Jersey City, NJ
$3,022/mo (81.7% of income)
Ridgefield, NJ
$3,021/mo (81.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cranford

View full rent data for Cranford, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Cranford, NJ?

Median rent in Cranford is $3,023 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 81.8% 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 Cranford?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Cranford's current median rent is $3,023/mo, which is $1,914/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 141.7 hours a month to cover Cranford's median rent of $3,023.

Where is rent cheaper than Cranford for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Bridgewater Township ($3,022/mo), Jersey City ($3,022/mo), Ridgefield ($3,021/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 Cranford, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.