Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Bristol, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.5% of gross income.

Bristol rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Bristol median rent
$2,181/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Rhode Island)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
63.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Bristol's median rent of $2,181 exceeds that threshold by $1,151/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 110.1 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

East Greenwich, RI
$2,178/mo (63.4% of income)
Cumberland, RI
$2,174/mo (63.3% of income)
East Greenwich, RI
$2,173/mo (63.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bristol

View full rent data for Bristol, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Bristol, RI?

Median rent in Bristol is $2,181 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Rhode Island earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 63.5% 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 Bristol?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Rhode Island (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $2,181/mo, which is $1,151/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Rhode Island works roughly 110.1 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $2,181.

Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include East Greenwich ($2,178/mo), Cumberland ($2,174/mo), East Greenwich ($2,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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