Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Brookfield, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 70.4% of gross income.

Brookfield rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Brookfield median rent
$2,207/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Wisconsin)
$37,630/yr
Rent as % of income
70.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,136, and the 30% rule supports up to $941/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $2,207 exceeds that threshold by $1,266/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 122 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Brookfield, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Verona, WI
$2,089/mo (66.6% of income)
Saukville, WI
$2,050/mo (65.4% of income)
Grafton, WI
$2,050/mo (65.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Brookfield, WI?

Median rent in Brookfield is $2,207 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Wisconsin earns about $37,630 a year, which makes that rent 70.4% 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 Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Wisconsin (~$37,630/yr) supports up to $941 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $2,207/mo, which is $1,266/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Wisconsin works roughly 122 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $2,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Verona ($2,089/mo), Saukville ($2,050/mo), Grafton ($2,050/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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