Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Morris Plains, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 95.8% of gross income.

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

Morris Plains median rent
$3,541/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
95.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Morris Plains's median rent of $3,541 exceeds that threshold by $2,432/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 166 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 Morris Plains, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Belmar, NJ
$3,538/mo (95.7% of income)
Weehawken, NJ
$3,531/mo (95.5% of income)
Fort Lee, NJ
$3,530/mo (95.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morris Plains

View full rent data for Morris Plains, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Morris Plains, NJ?

Median rent in Morris Plains is $3,541 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 95.8% 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 Morris Plains?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Morris Plains's current median rent is $3,541/mo, which is $2,432/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 166 hours a month to cover Morris Plains's median rent of $3,541.

Where is rent cheaper than Morris Plains for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Belmar ($3,538/mo), Weehawken ($3,531/mo), Fort Lee ($3,530/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 Morris Plains, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.