Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Athens, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.7% of gross income.

Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Athens median rent
$1,168/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
35.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,168 exceeds that threshold by $188/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

North Richland Hills, TX
$1,167/mo (35.7% of income)
Midland, TX
$1,165/mo (35.7% of income)
Freeport, TX
$1,164/mo (35.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Athens, TX?

Median rent in Athens is $1,168 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 35.7% 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 Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,168/mo, which is $188/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 62 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,168.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include North Richland Hills ($1,167/mo), Midland ($1,165/mo), Freeport ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Texas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Athens, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.