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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.7% of gross income.

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

Chelsea median rent
$2,628/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Massachusetts)
$70,516/yr
Rent as % of income
44.7%
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 $2,628 exceeds that threshold by $865/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 77.5 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:

Wakefield, MA
$2,627/mo (44.7% of income)
Randolph, MA
$2,627/mo (44.7% of income)
Gloucester, MA
$2,626/mo (44.7% 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 $2,628 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts earns about $70,516 a year, which makes that rent 44.7% 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 $2,628/mo, which is $865/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 77.5 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,628.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Wakefield ($2,627/mo), Randolph ($2,627/mo), Gloucester ($2,626/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.