Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Morgantown, WV?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53% of gross income.

Morgantown rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Morgantown median rent
$1,488/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (West Virginia)
$33,669/yr
Rent as % of income
53%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,806, and the 30% rule supports up to $842/mo in rent. Morgantown's median rent of $1,488 exceeds that threshold by $646/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 91.9 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 West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Morgantown, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Hurricane, WV
$1,433/mo (51.1% of income)
Star City, WV
$1,400/mo (49.9% of income)
Bridgeport, WV
$1,391/mo (49.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morgantown

View full rent data for Morgantown, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Morgantown, WV?

Median rent in Morgantown is $1,488 a month. A typical nursing assistant in West Virginia earns about $33,669 a year, which makes that rent 53% 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 Morgantown?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in West Virginia (~$33,669/yr) supports up to $842 a month in rent. Morgantown's current median rent is $1,488/mo, which is $646/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in West Virginia works roughly 91.9 hours a month to cover Morgantown's median rent of $1,488.

Where is rent cheaper than Morgantown for a nursing assistant?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hurricane ($1,433/mo), Star City ($1,400/mo), Bridgeport ($1,391/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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