Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Elmira, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.

Elmira rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Elmira median rent
$1,121/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New York)
$45,155/yr
Rent as % of income
29.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,763, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,129/mo in rent. Elmira's median rent of $1,121 leaves roughly $8/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 51.6 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 York cities have lower median rent than Elmira, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Endicott, NY
$1,120/mo (29.8% of income)
Endicott, NY
$1,119/mo (29.7% of income)
North Tonawanda, NY
$1,117/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elmira

View full rent data for Elmira, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Elmira, NY?

Median rent in Elmira is $1,121 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New York earns about $45,155 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Elmira?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New York (~$45,155/yr) supports up to $1,129 a month in rent. Elmira's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $8/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in New York works roughly 51.6 hours a month to cover Elmira's median rent of $1,121.

Where is rent cheaper than Elmira for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Endicott ($1,120/mo), Endicott ($1,119/mo), North Tonawanda ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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