Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Lake Stevens, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 80.2% of gross income.

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

Lake Stevens median rent
$2,964/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
80.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Lake Stevens's median rent of $2,964 exceeds that threshold by $1,855/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 139 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 Lake Stevens, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Maple Valley, WA
$2,962/mo (80.1% of income)
Bainbridge Island, WA
$2,942/mo (79.6% of income)
Gig Harbor, WA
$2,938/mo (79.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Stevens

View full rent data for Lake Stevens, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Lake Stevens, WA?

Median rent in Lake Stevens is $2,964 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 80.2% 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 Lake Stevens?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Lake Stevens's current median rent is $2,964/mo, which is $1,855/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 139 hours a month to cover Lake Stevens's median rent of $2,964.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Stevens for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Maple Valley ($2,962/mo), Bainbridge Island ($2,942/mo), Gig Harbor ($2,938/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 Lake Stevens, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.