Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kent, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.5% of gross income.

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

Kent median rent
$1,978/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
53.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Kent's median rent of $1,978 exceeds that threshold by $869/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 92.7 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 Kent, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Sedro-Woolley, WA
$1,977/mo (53.5% of income)
Lacey, WA
$1,977/mo (53.5% of income)
Bellingham, WA
$1,976/mo (53.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kent

View full rent data for Kent, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kent, WA?

Median rent in Kent is $1,978 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 53.5% 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 Kent?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Kent's current median rent is $1,978/mo, which is $869/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 92.7 hours a month to cover Kent's median rent of $1,978.

Where is rent cheaper than Kent for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sedro-Woolley ($1,977/mo), Lacey ($1,977/mo), Bellingham ($1,976/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 Kent, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.