Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lenoir City, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57% of gross income.

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

Lenoir City median rent
$1,732/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
57%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Lenoir City's median rent of $1,732 exceeds that threshold by $821/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 98.9 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 Lenoir City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

White House, TN
$1,730/mo (57% of income)
Knoxville, TN
$1,729/mo (56.9% of income)
Knoxville, TN
$1,729/mo (56.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lenoir City

View full rent data for Lenoir City, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lenoir City, TN?

Median rent in Lenoir City is $1,732 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 57% 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 Lenoir City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Lenoir City's current median rent is $1,732/mo, which is $821/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 98.9 hours a month to cover Lenoir City's median rent of $1,732.

Where is rent cheaper than Lenoir City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include White House ($1,730/mo), Knoxville ($1,729/mo), Knoxville ($1,729/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 Lenoir City, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.