Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Kelso, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.

Kelso rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Kelso median rent
$1,469/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Washington)
$68,085/yr
Rent as % of income
25.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,674, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,702/mo in rent. Kelso's median rent of $1,469 leaves roughly $233/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 44.9 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kelso, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,468/mo (25.9% of income)
University Place, WA
$1,467/mo (25.9% of income)
Chehalis, WA
$1,465/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kelso

View full rent data for Kelso, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Kelso, WA?

Median rent in Kelso is $1,469 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Washington earns about $68,085 a year, which makes that rent 25.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Washington (~$68,085/yr) supports up to $1,702 a month in rent. Kelso's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which leaves a $233/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Washington works roughly 44.9 hours a month to cover Kelso's median rent of $1,469.

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

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,468/mo), University Place ($1,467/mo), Chehalis ($1,465/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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