Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lakeland, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.8% of gross income.

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

Lakeland median rent
$1,725/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
56.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Lakeland's median rent of $1,725 exceeds that threshold by $814/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 98.5 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 Lakeland, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Goodlettsville, TN
$1,724/mo (56.8% of income)
White House, TN
$1,724/mo (56.8% of income)
Dickson, TN
$1,724/mo (56.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakeland

View full rent data for Lakeland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lakeland, TN?

Median rent in Lakeland is $1,725 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 56.8% 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 Lakeland?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Lakeland's current median rent is $1,725/mo, which is $814/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 98.5 hours a month to cover Lakeland's median rent of $1,725.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakeland for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Goodlettsville ($1,724/mo), White House ($1,724/mo), Dickson ($1,724/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 Lakeland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.