Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 73.8% of gross income.

Portsmouth rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Portsmouth median rent
$3,104/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Rhode Island)
$50,502/yr
Rent as % of income
73.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,209, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Portsmouth's median rent of $3,104 exceeds that threshold by $1,841/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 127.8 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Newport, RI
$3,100/mo (73.7% of income)
Newport, RI
$3,099/mo (73.6% of income)
Middletown, RI
$3,089/mo (73.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth

View full rent data for Portsmouth, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Median rent in Portsmouth is $3,104 a month. A typical dental assistant in Rhode Island earns about $50,502 a year, which makes that rent 73.8% 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 Portsmouth?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Rhode Island (~$50,502/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $3,104/mo, which is $1,841/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Rhode Island works roughly 127.8 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $3,104.

Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a dental assistant?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Newport ($3,100/mo), Newport ($3,099/mo), Middletown ($3,089/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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