Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Fort Lee, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 96.4% of gross income.

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

Fort Lee median rent
$3,565/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
96.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Fort Lee's median rent of $3,565 exceeds that threshold by $2,456/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 167.1 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 Fort Lee, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Weehawken, NJ
$3,559/mo (96.3% of income)
Morris Plains, NJ
$3,558/mo (96.2% of income)
Oakhurst, NJ
$3,550/mo (96% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Lee

View full rent data for Fort Lee, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Fort Lee, NJ?

Median rent in Fort Lee is $3,565 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 96.4% 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 Fort Lee?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Fort Lee's current median rent is $3,565/mo, which is $2,456/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 167.1 hours a month to cover Fort Lee's median rent of $3,565.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Lee for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Weehawken ($3,559/mo), Morris Plains ($3,558/mo), Oakhurst ($3,550/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 Fort Lee, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.