Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Johnston, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.6% of gross income.

Johnston rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Johnston median rent
$2,320/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Rhode Island)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
67.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. Johnston's median rent of $2,320 exceeds that threshold by $1,290/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 117.1 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 Johnston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Cumberland, RI
$2,311/mo (67.3% of income)
North Smithfield, RI
$2,309/mo (67.3% of income)
North Smithfield, RI
$2,305/mo (67.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnston

View full rent data for Johnston, RI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Johnston, RI?

Median rent in Johnston is $2,320 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Rhode Island earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 67.6% 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 Johnston?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Rhode Island (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. Johnston's current median rent is $2,320/mo, which is $1,290/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Rhode Island works roughly 117.1 hours a month to cover Johnston's median rent of $2,320.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnston for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Cumberland ($2,311/mo), North Smithfield ($2,309/mo), North Smithfield ($2,305/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 Johnston, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.