Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Elizabethton, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.1% of gross income.

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

Elizabethton median rent
$1,067/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
35.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Elizabethton's median rent of $1,067 exceeds that threshold by $156/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.9 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 Elizabethton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Athens, TN
$1,063/mo (35% of income)
Athens, TN
$1,056/mo (34.8% of income)
Martin, TN
$1,050/mo (34.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabethton

View full rent data for Elizabethton, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Elizabethton, TN?

Median rent in Elizabethton is $1,067 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 35.1% 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 Elizabethton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Elizabethton's current median rent is $1,067/mo, which is $156/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 60.9 hours a month to cover Elizabethton's median rent of $1,067.

Where is rent cheaper than Elizabethton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,063/mo), Athens ($1,056/mo), Martin ($1,050/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 Elizabethton, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.