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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.6% of gross income.

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

Forest Grove median rent
$1,738/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oregon)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
50.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738 exceeds that threshold by $708/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 87.8 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 Forest Grove, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Canby, OR
$1,736/mo (50.6% of income)
Albany, OR
$1,736/mo (50.6% of income)
Woodburn, OR
$1,735/mo (50.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Grove

View full rent data for Forest Grove, OR

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Forest Grove is $1,738 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oregon earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 50.6% 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 Forest Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oregon (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Forest Grove's current median rent is $1,738/mo, which is $708/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oregon works roughly 87.8 hours a month to cover Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738.

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

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Canby ($1,736/mo), Albany ($1,736/mo), Woodburn ($1,735/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 Forest Grove, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.