Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Abilene, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.6% of gross income.

Abilene rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Abilene median rent
$1,947/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Texas)
$48,074/yr
Rent as % of income
48.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,006, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,202/mo in rent. Abilene's median rent of $1,947 exceeds that threshold by $745/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 84.2 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Abilene, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Porter, TX
$1,946/mo (48.6% of income)
Venus, TX
$1,946/mo (48.6% of income)
Bastrop, TX
$1,945/mo (48.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Abilene

View full rent data for Abilene, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Abilene, TX?

Median rent in Abilene is $1,947 a month. A typical dental assistant in Texas earns about $48,074 a year, which makes that rent 48.6% 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 Abilene?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Texas (~$48,074/yr) supports up to $1,202 a month in rent. Abilene's current median rent is $1,947/mo, which is $745/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a dental assistant in Texas works roughly 84.2 hours a month to cover Abilene's median rent of $1,947.

Where is rent cheaper than Abilene for a dental assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Porter ($1,946/mo), Venus ($1,946/mo), Bastrop ($1,945/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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