Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Fairhope, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Fairhope rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Fairhope median rent
$2,073/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Alabama)
$81,253/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,771, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,031/mo in rent. Fairhope's median rent of $2,073 exceeds that threshold by $42/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Fairhope, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Chelsea, AL
$2,068/mo (30.5% of income)
Chelsea, AL
$2,068/mo (30.5% of income)
Vestavia Hills, AL
$2,049/mo (30.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairhope

View full rent data for Fairhope, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Fairhope, AL?

Median rent in Fairhope is $2,073 a month. A typical registered nurse in Alabama earns about $81,253 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Fairhope?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Alabama (~$81,253/yr) supports up to $2,031 a month in rent. Fairhope's current median rent is $2,073/mo, which is $42/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Fairhope?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a registered nurse in Alabama works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover Fairhope's median rent of $2,073.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairhope for a registered nurse?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Chelsea ($2,068/mo), Chelsea ($2,068/mo), Vestavia Hills ($2,049/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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