Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Farmington, NM?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.7% of gross income.

Farmington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Farmington median rent
$1,535/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Mexico)
$35,649/yr
Rent as % of income
51.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,971, and the 30% rule supports up to $891/mo in rent. Farmington's median rent of $1,535 exceeds that threshold by $644/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 89.6 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 Mexico cities have lower median rent than Farmington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Alamogordo, NM
$1,533/mo (51.6% of income)
Alamogordo, NM
$1,525/mo (51.3% of income)
Carlsbad, NM
$1,519/mo (51.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Farmington

View full rent data for Farmington, NM →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Farmington, NM?

Median rent in Farmington is $1,535 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Mexico earns about $35,649 a year, which makes that rent 51.7% 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 Farmington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Mexico (~$35,649/yr) supports up to $891 a month in rent. Farmington's current median rent is $1,535/mo, which is $644/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Mexico works roughly 89.6 hours a month to cover Farmington's median rent of $1,535.

Where is rent cheaper than Farmington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Alamogordo ($1,533/mo), Alamogordo ($1,525/mo), Carlsbad ($1,519/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Mexico state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Farmington, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.