Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Edison, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.1% of gross income.

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

Edison median rent
$2,889/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
78.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Edison's median rent of $2,889 exceeds that threshold by $1,780/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 135.5 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 Edison, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Chatham, NJ
$2,884/mo (78% of income)
Morristown, NJ
$2,883/mo (78% of income)
Summit, NJ
$2,881/mo (77.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Edison

View full rent data for Edison, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Edison, NJ?

Median rent in Edison is $2,889 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 78.1% 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 Edison?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Edison's current median rent is $2,889/mo, which is $1,780/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 135.5 hours a month to cover Edison's median rent of $2,889.

Where is rent cheaper than Edison for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Chatham ($2,884/mo), Morristown ($2,883/mo), Summit ($2,881/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 Edison, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.