Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Arlington, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.7% of gross income.

Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Arlington median rent
$2,480/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
81.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Arlington's median rent of $2,480 exceeds that threshold by $1,569/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 141.6 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Germantown, TN
$2,415/mo (79.5% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,300/mo (75.7% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,290/mo (75.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington

View full rent data for Arlington, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Arlington, TN?

Median rent in Arlington is $2,480 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 81.7% 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 Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $2,480/mo, which is $1,569/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 141.6 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $2,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Germantown ($2,415/mo), Germantown ($2,300/mo), Germantown ($2,290/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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