Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Essex, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

Essex rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Essex median rent
$1,352/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Maryland)
$65,653/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,471, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,641/mo in rent. Essex's median rent of $1,352 leaves roughly $289/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 42.8 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Essex, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Hagerstown, MD
$1,348/mo (24.6% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,345/mo (24.6% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,344/mo (24.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Essex

View full rent data for Essex, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Essex, MD?

Median rent in Essex is $1,352 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Maryland earns about $65,653 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Maryland (~$65,653/yr) supports up to $1,641 a month in rent. Essex's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $289/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Maryland works roughly 42.8 hours a month to cover Essex's median rent of $1,352.

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

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hagerstown ($1,348/mo), Hagerstown ($1,345/mo), Hagerstown ($1,344/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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