Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Colonial Heights, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.3% of gross income.

Colonial Heights rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Colonial Heights median rent
$1,665/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Virginia)
$49,531/yr
Rent as % of income
40.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,128, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,238/mo in rent. Colonial Heights's median rent of $1,665 exceeds that threshold by $427/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 69.9 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Colonial Heights, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Bellwood, VA
$1,664/mo (40.3% of income)
East Highland Park, VA
$1,661/mo (40.2% of income)
Norfolk, VA
$1,660/mo (40.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colonial Heights

View full rent data for Colonial Heights, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Colonial Heights, VA?

Median rent in Colonial Heights is $1,665 a month. A typical dental assistant in Virginia earns about $49,531 a year, which makes that rent 40.3% 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 Colonial Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Virginia (~$49,531/yr) supports up to $1,238 a month in rent. Colonial Heights's current median rent is $1,665/mo, which is $427/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Virginia works roughly 69.9 hours a month to cover Colonial Heights's median rent of $1,665.

Where is rent cheaper than Colonial Heights for a dental assistant?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Bellwood ($1,664/mo), East Highland Park ($1,661/mo), Norfolk ($1,660/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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