Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Morristown, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.5% of gross income.

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

Morristown median rent
$1,502/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
49.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Morristown's median rent of $1,502 exceeds that threshold by $591/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 85.7 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 Morristown, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Smithville, TN
$1,500/mo (49.4% of income)
Cordova, TN
$1,500/mo (49.4% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,499/mo (49.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morristown

View full rent data for Morristown, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Morristown, TN?

Median rent in Morristown is $1,502 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 49.5% 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 Morristown?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Morristown's current median rent is $1,502/mo, which is $591/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 85.7 hours a month to cover Morristown's median rent of $1,502.

Where is rent cheaper than Morristown for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Smithville ($1,500/mo), Cordova ($1,500/mo), Chattanooga ($1,499/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 Morristown, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.