Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lancaster, NY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.

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

Lancaster median rent
$1,599/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New York)
$45,155/yr
Rent as % of income
42.5%
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 $1,599 exceeds that threshold by $470/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 73.7 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:

Clifton Park, NY
$1,597/mo (42.4% of income)
Albany, NY
$1,596/mo (42.4% of income)
Canandaigua, NY
$1,596/mo (42.4% 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 $1,599 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New York earns about $45,155 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 $1,599/mo, which is $470/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 73.7 hours a month to cover Lancaster's median rent of $1,599.

Where is rent cheaper than Lancaster for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Clifton Park ($1,597/mo), Albany ($1,596/mo), Canandaigua ($1,596/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.