Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Ponca City, OK?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Ponca City rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Ponca City median rent
$808/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oklahoma)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Ponca City's median rent of $808 leaves roughly $63/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 48.2 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Ponca City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Lawton, OK
$788/mo (27.1% of income)
Lawton, OK
$728/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ponca City

View full rent data for Ponca City, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Ponca City, OK?

Median rent in Ponca City is $808 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oklahoma earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Ponca City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oklahoma (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Ponca City's current median rent is $808/mo, which leaves a $63/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oklahoma works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Ponca City's median rent of $808.

Where is rent cheaper than Ponca City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Lawton ($788/mo), Lawton ($728/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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