Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Mitchell, SD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

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

Mitchell median rent
$972/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (South Dakota)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Mitchell's median rent of $972 exceeds that threshold by $101/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 58 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 Mitchell, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Aberdeen, SD
$964/mo (33.2% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$955/mo (32.9% of income)
Sioux Falls, SD
$952/mo (32.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mitchell

View full rent data for Mitchell, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Mitchell, SD?

Median rent in Mitchell is $972 a month. A typical nursing assistant in South Dakota earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Mitchell?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in South Dakota (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Mitchell's current median rent is $972/mo, which is $101/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in South Dakota works roughly 58 hours a month to cover Mitchell's median rent of $972.

Where is rent cheaper than Mitchell for a nursing assistant?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($964/mo), Vermillion ($955/mo), Sioux Falls ($952/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 Mitchell, SD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.