Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in The Dalles, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.6% of gross income.

The Dalles rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

The Dalles median rent
$1,625/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Oregon)
$50,502/yr
Rent as % of income
38.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,209, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. The Dalles's median rent of $1,625 exceeds that threshold by $362/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 66.9 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than The Dalles, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

West Slope, OR
$1,623/mo (38.6% of income)
Springfield, OR
$1,622/mo (38.5% of income)
Coos Bay, OR
$1,622/mo (38.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for The Dalles

View full rent data for The Dalles, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in The Dalles, OR?

Median rent in The Dalles is $1,625 a month. A typical dental assistant in Oregon earns about $50,502 a year, which makes that rent 38.6% 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 The Dalles?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Oregon (~$50,502/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. The Dalles's current median rent is $1,625/mo, which is $362/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Oregon works roughly 66.9 hours a month to cover The Dalles's median rent of $1,625.

Where is rent cheaper than The Dalles for a dental assistant?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include West Slope ($1,623/mo), Springfield ($1,622/mo), Coos Bay ($1,622/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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