Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dayton, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.9% of gross income.

Dayton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$1,207/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Ohio)
$37,233/yr
Rent as % of income
38.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,103, and the 30% rule supports up to $931/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $1,207 exceeds that threshold by $276/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 67.4 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Mayfield Heights, OH
$1,206/mo (38.9% of income)
Euclid, OH
$1,205/mo (38.8% of income)
Lancaster, OH
$1,205/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dayton, OH?

Median rent in Dayton is $1,207 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Ohio earns about $37,233 a year, which makes that rent 38.9% 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 Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Ohio (~$37,233/yr) supports up to $931 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,207/mo, which is $276/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Ohio works roughly 67.4 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Mayfield Heights ($1,206/mo), Euclid ($1,205/mo), Lancaster ($1,205/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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