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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.2% of gross income.

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

Kelso median rent
$1,485/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Washington)
$68,085/yr
Rent as % of income
26.2%
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 $1,485 leaves roughly $217/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 45.4 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kelso, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Walla Walla, WA
$1,484/mo (26.2% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,481/mo (26.1% of income)
Moses Lake, WA
$1,481/mo (26.1% 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 $1,485 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Washington earns about $68,085 a year, which makes that rent 26.2% 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 $1,485/mo, which leaves a $217/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 45.4 hours a month to cover Kelso's median rent of $1,485.

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

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Walla Walla ($1,484/mo), Pullman ($1,481/mo), Moses Lake ($1,481/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.