Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in New Brunswick, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 74% of gross income.

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

New Brunswick median rent
$2,735/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
74%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. New Brunswick's median rent of $2,735 exceeds that threshold by $1,626/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 128.2 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 New Brunswick, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Piscataway, NJ
$2,734/mo (74% of income)
Neptune Township, NJ
$2,733/mo (73.9% of income)
Neptune Township, NJ
$2,733/mo (73.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Brunswick

View full rent data for New Brunswick, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in New Brunswick, NJ?

Median rent in New Brunswick is $2,735 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 74% 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 New Brunswick?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. New Brunswick's current median rent is $2,735/mo, which is $1,626/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 128.2 hours a month to cover New Brunswick's median rent of $2,735.

Where is rent cheaper than New Brunswick for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Piscataway ($2,734/mo), Neptune Township ($2,733/mo), Neptune Township ($2,733/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 New Brunswick, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.