Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in North Smithfield, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.9% of gross income.

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

North Smithfield median rent
$2,298/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Rhode Island)
$41,194/yr
Rent as % of income
66.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,433, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,030/mo in rent. North Smithfield's median rent of $2,298 exceeds that threshold by $1,268/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 116 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 North Smithfield, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Cumberland, RI
$2,295/mo (66.9% of income)
East Greenwich, RI
$2,293/mo (66.8% of income)
Cumberland, RI
$2,290/mo (66.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Smithfield

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Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in North Smithfield, RI?

Median rent in North Smithfield is $2,298 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Rhode Island earns about $41,194 a year, which makes that rent 66.9% 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 North Smithfield?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Rhode Island (~$41,194/yr) supports up to $1,030 a month in rent. North Smithfield's current median rent is $2,298/mo, which is $1,268/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a nursing assistant in Rhode Island works roughly 116 hours a month to cover North Smithfield's median rent of $2,298.

Where is rent cheaper than North Smithfield for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Cumberland ($2,295/mo), East Greenwich ($2,293/mo), Cumberland ($2,290/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 North Smithfield, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.