Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Ferndale, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.3% of gross income.

Ferndale rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Ferndale median rent
$2,007/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
54.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Ferndale's median rent of $2,007 exceeds that threshold by $898/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 94.1 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Ferndale, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Auburn, WA
$2,006/mo (54.3% of income)
Ridgefield, WA
$2,006/mo (54.3% of income)
Lynden, WA
$2,006/mo (54.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ferndale

View full rent data for Ferndale, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Ferndale, WA?

Median rent in Ferndale is $2,007 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 54.3% 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 Ferndale?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Ferndale's current median rent is $2,007/mo, which is $898/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 94.1 hours a month to cover Ferndale's median rent of $2,007.

Where is rent cheaper than Ferndale for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Auburn ($2,006/mo), Ridgefield ($2,006/mo), Lynden ($2,006/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 Ferndale, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.