Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

Harrisonburg rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Harrisonburg median rent
$1,848/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Virginia)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,848 exceeds that threshold by $838/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 95.1 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Harrisonburg, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Suffolk, VA
$1,846/mo (54.8% of income)
Spotsylvania, VA
$1,838/mo (54.6% of income)
Blacksburg, VA
$1,837/mo (54.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Harrisonburg

View full rent data for Harrisonburg, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

Median rent in Harrisonburg is $1,848 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Virginia earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% 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 Harrisonburg?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Virginia (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Harrisonburg's current median rent is $1,848/mo, which is $838/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Virginia works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,848.

Where is rent cheaper than Harrisonburg for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Suffolk ($1,846/mo), Spotsylvania ($1,838/mo), Blacksburg ($1,837/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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