Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Roanoke, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.

Roanoke rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Roanoke median rent
$1,394/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Virginia)
$62,006/yr
Rent as % of income
27%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,167, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,550/mo in rent. Roanoke's median rent of $1,394 leaves roughly $156/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 46.8 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Roanoke, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Waynesboro, VA
$1,392/mo (26.9% of income)
Salem, VA
$1,392/mo (26.9% of income)
Bristol, VA
$1,390/mo (26.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Roanoke

View full rent data for Roanoke, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Roanoke, VA?

Median rent in Roanoke is $1,394 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Virginia earns about $62,006 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Virginia (~$62,006/yr) supports up to $1,550 a month in rent. Roanoke's current median rent is $1,394/mo, which leaves a $156/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Virginia works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Roanoke's median rent of $1,394.

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

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Waynesboro ($1,392/mo), Salem ($1,392/mo), Bristol ($1,390/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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