Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Covington, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

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

Covington median rent
$1,100/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Covington's median rent of $1,100 exceeds that threshold by $189/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62.8 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 Covington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Athens, TN
$1,099/mo (36.2% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,089/mo (35.9% of income)
Knoxville, TN
$1,086/mo (35.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Covington

View full rent data for Covington, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Covington, TN?

Median rent in Covington is $1,100 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Covington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Covington's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which is $189/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 62.8 hours a month to cover Covington's median rent of $1,100.

Where is rent cheaper than Covington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,099/mo), Chattanooga ($1,089/mo), Knoxville ($1,086/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 Covington, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.