Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Waterbury, CT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.9% of gross income.

Waterbury rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Connecticut state estimate).

Waterbury median rent
$1,554/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Connecticut)
$103,928/yr
Rent as % of income
17.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,598/mo in rent. Waterbury's median rent of $1,554 leaves roughly $1,044/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 31.1 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 Connecticut cities have lower median rent than Waterbury, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

East Hartford, CT
$1,553/mo (17.9% of income)
Hartford, CT
$1,551/mo (17.9% of income)
Bristol, CT
$1,548/mo (17.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waterbury

View full rent data for Waterbury, CT

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Waterbury, CT?

Median rent in Waterbury is $1,554 a month. A typical registered nurse in Connecticut earns about $103,928 a year, which makes that rent 17.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Waterbury?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Connecticut (~$103,928/yr) supports up to $2,598 a month in rent. Waterbury's current median rent is $1,554/mo, which leaves a $1,044/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $50 an hour, a registered nurse in Connecticut works roughly 31.1 hours a month to cover Waterbury's median rent of $1,554.

Where is rent cheaper than Waterbury for a registered nurse?

Nearby Connecticut cities with lower median rent include East Hartford ($1,553/mo), Hartford ($1,551/mo), Bristol ($1,548/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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