Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Wilmington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.6% of gross income.

Wilmington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Wilmington median rent
$3,218/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Massachusetts)
$56,330/yr
Rent as % of income
68.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,694, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,408/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $3,218 exceeds that threshold by $1,810/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 118.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Westwood, MA
$3,210/mo (68.4% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,209/mo (68.4% of income)
Medford, MA
$3,208/mo (68.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

View full rent data for Wilmington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Wilmington, MA?

Median rent in Wilmington is $3,218 a month. A typical dental assistant in Massachusetts earns about $56,330 a year, which makes that rent 68.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Massachusetts (~$56,330/yr) supports up to $1,408 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $3,218/mo, which is $1,810/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Wilmington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a dental assistant in Massachusetts works roughly 118.8 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $3,218.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a dental assistant?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westwood ($3,210/mo), Winchester ($3,209/mo), Medford ($3,208/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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