Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Rochester, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.4% of gross income.

Rochester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Rochester median rent
$1,702/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$50,502/yr
Rent as % of income
40.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,209, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $1,702 exceeds that threshold by $439/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 70.1 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Oakdale, MN
$1,701/mo (40.4% of income)
Coon Rapids, MN
$1,700/mo (40.4% of income)
Saint Louis Park, MN
$1,698/mo (40.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Rochester, MN?

Median rent in Rochester is $1,702 a month. A typical dental assistant in Minnesota earns about $50,502 a year, which makes that rent 40.4% 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 Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Minnesota (~$50,502/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,702/mo, which is $439/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Minnesota works roughly 70.1 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,702.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a dental assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Oakdale ($1,701/mo), Coon Rapids ($1,700/mo), Saint Louis Park ($1,698/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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