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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.3% of gross income.

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

Gardner median rent
$1,603/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Massachusetts)
$70,516/yr
Rent as % of income
27.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,876, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,763/mo in rent. Gardner's median rent of $1,603 leaves roughly $160/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 47.3 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 Gardner, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Springfield, MA
$1,602/mo (27.3% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,600/mo (27.2% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,598/mo (27.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gardner

View full rent data for Gardner, MA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Gardner is $1,603 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts earns about $70,516 a year, which makes that rent 27.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Massachusetts (~$70,516/yr) supports up to $1,763 a month in rent. Gardner's current median rent is $1,603/mo, which leaves a $160/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts works roughly 47.3 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,603.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,602/mo), Springfield ($1,600/mo), Springfield ($1,598/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 Gardner, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.