Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Brandon, SD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.4% of gross income.

Brandon rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Brandon median rent
$1,202/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (South Dakota)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
41.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Brandon's median rent of $1,202 exceeds that threshold by $331/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 71.7 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brandon, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Brookings, SD
$1,165/mo (40.1% of income)
Brookings, SD
$1,100/mo (37.9% of income)
Aberdeen, SD
$1,049/mo (36.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brandon

View full rent data for Brandon, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Brandon, SD?

Median rent in Brandon is $1,202 a month. A typical nursing assistant in South Dakota earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 41.4% 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 Brandon?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in South Dakota (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Brandon's current median rent is $1,202/mo, which is $331/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in South Dakota works roughly 71.7 hours a month to cover Brandon's median rent of $1,202.

Where is rent cheaper than Brandon for a nursing assistant?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Brookings ($1,165/mo), Brookings ($1,100/mo), Aberdeen ($1,049/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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