Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Jackson, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.8% of gross income.

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

Jackson median rent
$1,451/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
47.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,451 exceeds that threshold by $540/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 82.8 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 Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Portland, TN
$1,450/mo (47.7% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,450/mo (47.7% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,445/mo (47.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Jackson, TN?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,451 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 47.8% 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 Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,451/mo, which is $540/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 82.8 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,451.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Portland ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,445/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 Jackson, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.