Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Rochester, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.

Rochester rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Rochester median rent
$879/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Pennsylvania)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
26.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $879 leaves roughly $101/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 46.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Johnstown, PA
$875/mo (26.8% of income)
Washington, PA
$874/mo (26.7% of income)
Sharon, PA
$873/mo (26.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Rochester, PA?

Median rent in Rochester is $879 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Pennsylvania earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Pennsylvania (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $879/mo, which leaves a $101/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Pennsylvania works roughly 46.6 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $879.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Johnstown ($875/mo), Washington ($874/mo), Sharon ($873/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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