Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Petersburg, VA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 40% of gross income.
Petersburg rent: July 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 Petersburg, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Petersburg
View full rent data for Petersburg, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Petersburg, VA?
Median rent in Petersburg is $1,346 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Virginia earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 40% 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 Petersburg?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Virginia (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Petersburg's current median rent is $1,346/mo, which is $336/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Petersburg?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Virginia works roughly 69.3 hours a month to cover Petersburg's median rent of $1,346.
Where is rent cheaper than Petersburg for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Roanoke ($1,345/mo), Hopewell ($1,344/mo), Roanoke ($1,344/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.