Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Cottage Grove, OR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.1% of gross income.

Cottage Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Cottage Grove median rent
$1,445/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oregon)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
42.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Cottage Grove's median rent of $1,445 exceeds that threshold by $415/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 73 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Cottage Grove, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Astoria, OR
$1,442/mo (42% of income)
Astoria, OR
$1,441/mo (42% of income)
Astoria, OR
$1,441/mo (42% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cottage Grove

View full rent data for Cottage Grove, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Cottage Grove, OR?

Median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,445 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oregon earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 42.1% 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 Cottage Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oregon (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Cottage Grove's current median rent is $1,445/mo, which is $415/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oregon works roughly 73 hours a month to cover Cottage Grove's median rent of $1,445.

Where is rent cheaper than Cottage Grove for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Astoria ($1,442/mo), Astoria ($1,441/mo), Astoria ($1,441/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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