Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Rochester, NY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.7% of gross income.

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

Rochester median rent
$1,532/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New York)
$45,155/yr
Rent as % of income
40.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,763, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,129/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $1,532 exceeds that threshold by $403/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 70.6 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 Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Henrietta, NY
$1,529/mo (40.6% of income)
Canandaigua, NY
$1,527/mo (40.6% of income)
Brockport, NY
$1,526/mo (40.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Rochester, NY?

Median rent in Rochester is $1,532 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New York earns about $45,155 a year, which makes that rent 40.7% 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 Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New York (~$45,155/yr) supports up to $1,129 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,532/mo, which is $403/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in New York works roughly 70.6 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,532.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Henrietta ($1,529/mo), Canandaigua ($1,527/mo), Brockport ($1,526/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 Rochester, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.