Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in East Ridge, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.5% of gross income.

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

East Ridge median rent
$1,322/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
43.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. East Ridge's median rent of $1,322 exceeds that threshold by $411/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 75.5 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 East Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Murfreesboro, TN
$1,320/mo (43.5% of income)
Kingsport, TN
$1,319/mo (43.4% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,317/mo (43.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Ridge

View full rent data for East Ridge, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in East Ridge, TN?

Median rent in East Ridge is $1,322 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 43.5% 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 East Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. East Ridge's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which is $411/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 75.5 hours a month to cover East Ridge's median rent of $1,322.

Where is rent cheaper than East Ridge for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Murfreesboro ($1,320/mo), Kingsport ($1,319/mo), Johnson City ($1,317/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 East Ridge, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.