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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.1% of gross income.

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

Somerville median rent
$3,589/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Massachusetts)
$70,516/yr
Rent as % of income
61.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,876, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,763/mo in rent. Somerville's median rent of $3,589 exceeds that threshold by $1,826/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 105.9 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 Somerville, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Concord, MA
$3,588/mo (61.1% of income)
Cambridge, MA
$3,584/mo (61% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,570/mo (60.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Somerville

View full rent data for Somerville, MA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Somerville is $3,589 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts earns about $70,516 a year, which makes that rent 61.1% 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 Somerville?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Massachusetts (~$70,516/yr) supports up to $1,763 a month in rent. Somerville's current median rent is $3,589/mo, which is $1,826/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Massachusetts works roughly 105.9 hours a month to cover Somerville's median rent of $3,589.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Concord ($3,588/mo), Cambridge ($3,584/mo), Concord ($3,570/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 Somerville, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.