Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Surf City, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.6% of gross income.

Surf City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Surf City median rent
$2,265/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (North Carolina)
$57,143/yr
Rent as % of income
47.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,762, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,429/mo in rent. Surf City's median rent of $2,265 exceeds that threshold by $836/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 82.4 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Surf City, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Waxhaw, NC
$2,263/mo (47.5% of income)
Advance, NC
$2,262/mo (47.5% of income)
Waxhaw, NC
$2,261/mo (47.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Surf City

View full rent data for Surf City, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Surf City, NC?

Median rent in Surf City is $2,265 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in North Carolina earns about $57,143 a year, which makes that rent 47.6% 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 Surf City?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in North Carolina (~$57,143/yr) supports up to $1,429 a month in rent. Surf City's current median rent is $2,265/mo, which is $836/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in North Carolina works roughly 82.4 hours a month to cover Surf City's median rent of $2,265.

Where is rent cheaper than Surf City for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Waxhaw ($2,263/mo), Advance ($2,262/mo), Waxhaw ($2,261/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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