Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lexington, VA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.5% of gross income.
Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).
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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lexington
View full rent data for Lexington, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lexington, VA?
Median rent in Lexington is $1,699 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Virginia earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 50.5% 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 Lexington?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Virginia (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,699/mo, which is $689/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Lexington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Virginia works roughly 87.5 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,699.
Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Harrisonburg ($1,697/mo), Christiansburg ($1,696/mo), Norfolk ($1,696/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.