Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lancaster, NY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42% of gross income.

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

Lancaster median rent
$1,582/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New York)
$45,155/yr
Rent as % of income
42%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,763, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,129/mo in rent. Lancaster's median rent of $1,582 exceeds that threshold by $453/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 72.9 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 Lancaster, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Syracuse, NY
$1,580/mo (42% of income)
Albany, NY
$1,579/mo (42% of income)
Syracuse, NY
$1,576/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lancaster

View full rent data for Lancaster, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lancaster, NY?

Median rent in Lancaster is $1,582 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New York earns about $45,155 a year, which makes that rent 42% 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 Lancaster?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New York (~$45,155/yr) supports up to $1,129 a month in rent. Lancaster's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $453/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in New York works roughly 72.9 hours a month to cover Lancaster's median rent of $1,582.

Where is rent cheaper than Lancaster for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Syracuse ($1,580/mo), Albany ($1,579/mo), Syracuse ($1,576/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 Lancaster, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.