Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Oakland, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 69.9% of gross income.

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

Oakland median rent
$2,123/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
69.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Oakland's median rent of $2,123 exceeds that threshold by $1,212/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 121.2 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 Oakland, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Franklin, TN
$2,118/mo (69.7% of income)
Mount Juliet, TN
$2,107/mo (69.4% of income)
Ooltewah, TN
$2,100/mo (69.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oakland

View full rent data for Oakland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Oakland, TN?

Median rent in Oakland is $2,123 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 69.9% 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 Oakland?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Oakland's current median rent is $2,123/mo, which is $1,212/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 121.2 hours a month to cover Oakland's median rent of $2,123.

Where is rent cheaper than Oakland for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Franklin ($2,118/mo), Mount Juliet ($2,107/mo), Ooltewah ($2,100/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 Oakland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.