Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Chelsea, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.8% of gross income.

Chelsea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Chelsea median rent
$2,632/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Massachusetts)
$70,516/yr
Rent as % of income
44.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,876, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,763/mo in rent. Chelsea's median rent of $2,632 exceeds that threshold by $869/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 77.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Salem, MA
$2,631/mo (44.8% of income)
Bridgewater, MA
$2,630/mo (44.8% of income)
North Andover, MA
$2,630/mo (44.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chelsea

View full rent data for Chelsea, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Chelsea, MA?

Median rent in Chelsea is $2,632 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts earns about $70,516 a year, which makes that rent 44.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Chelsea?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Massachusetts (~$70,516/yr) supports up to $1,763 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,632/mo, which is $869/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Chelsea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts works roughly 77.6 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,632.

Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Salem ($2,631/mo), Bridgewater ($2,630/mo), North Andover ($2,630/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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