Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Port Arthur, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.9% of gross income.

Port Arthur rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Port Arthur median rent
$1,270/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
38.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Port Arthur's median rent of $1,270 exceeds that threshold by $290/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 67.4 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 Port Arthur, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Athens, TX
$1,269/mo (38.8% of income)
Wichita Falls, TX
$1,269/mo (38.8% of income)
Jersey Village, TX
$1,269/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Port Arthur

View full rent data for Port Arthur, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Port Arthur, TX?

Median rent in Port Arthur is $1,270 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 38.9% 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 Port Arthur?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Port Arthur's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $290/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 67.4 hours a month to cover Port Arthur's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Port Arthur for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,269/mo), Wichita Falls ($1,269/mo), Jersey Village ($1,269/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 Port Arthur, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.