Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Blaine, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.2% of gross income.

Blaine rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Blaine median rent
$2,521/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
68.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Blaine's median rent of $2,521 exceeds that threshold by $1,412/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 118.2 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Blaine, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Dupont, WA
$2,520/mo (68.2% of income)
Marysville, WA
$2,520/mo (68.2% of income)
Graham, WA
$2,517/mo (68.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Blaine

View full rent data for Blaine, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Blaine, WA?

Median rent in Blaine is $2,521 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 68.2% 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 Blaine?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Blaine's current median rent is $2,521/mo, which is $1,412/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 118.2 hours a month to cover Blaine's median rent of $2,521.

Where is rent cheaper than Blaine for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Dupont ($2,520/mo), Marysville ($2,520/mo), Graham ($2,517/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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