Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dayton, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.
Dayton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
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 Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dayton
View full rent data for Dayton, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dayton, TN?
Median rent in Dayton is $815 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Dayton?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $815/mo, which leaves a $96/mo buffer.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Dayton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 46.5 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $815.
Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dyersburg ($812/mo), Dyersburg ($781/mo), Dyersburg ($768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.