Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Elizabeth, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Elizabeth median rent
$2,255/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (New Jersey)
$68,085/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,674, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,702/mo in rent. Elizabeth's median rent of $2,255 exceeds that threshold by $553/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 68.9 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Sicklerville, NJ
$2,254/mo (39.7% of income)
Mt Laurel Township, NJ
$2,254/mo (39.7% of income)
Highland Park, NJ
$2,253/mo (39.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabeth

View full rent data for Elizabeth, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Elizabeth, NJ?

Median rent in Elizabeth is $2,255 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in New Jersey earns about $68,085 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in New Jersey (~$68,085/yr) supports up to $1,702 a month in rent. Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,255/mo, which is $553/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in New Jersey works roughly 68.9 hours a month to cover Elizabeth's median rent of $2,255.

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

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Sicklerville ($2,254/mo), Mt Laurel Township ($2,254/mo), Highland Park ($2,253/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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