Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Independence, OR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.3% of gross income.

Independence rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Independence median rent
$1,932/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oregon)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
56.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Independence's median rent of $1,932 exceeds that threshold by $902/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 97.6 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Independence, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Oregon City, OR
$1,931/mo (56.3% of income)
Oregon City, OR
$1,930/mo (56.2% of income)
Hillsboro, OR
$1,930/mo (56.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Independence

View full rent data for Independence, OR →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Independence, OR?

Median rent in Independence is $1,932 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oregon earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 56.3% 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 Independence?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oregon (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Independence's current median rent is $1,932/mo, which is $902/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oregon works roughly 97.6 hours a month to cover Independence's median rent of $1,932.

Where is rent cheaper than Independence for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Oregon City ($1,931/mo), Oregon City ($1,930/mo), Hillsboro ($1,930/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 Independence, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.