Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Lewes, DE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.1% of gross income.

Lewes rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Lewes median rent
$2,418/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Delaware)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
30.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Lewes's median rent of $2,418 exceeds that threshold by $9/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 52.2 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Lewes, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Rehoboth Beach, DE
$2,350/mo (29.3% of income)
Bear, DE
$2,343/mo (29.2% of income)
Bear, DE
$2,342/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewes

View full rent data for Lewes, DE →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lewes, DE?

Median rent in Lewes is $2,418 a month. A typical registered nurse in Delaware earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 30.1% 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 Lewes?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Delaware (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Lewes's current median rent is $2,418/mo, which is $9/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Delaware works roughly 52.2 hours a month to cover Lewes's median rent of $2,418.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewes for a registered nurse?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Rehoboth Beach ($2,350/mo), Bear ($2,343/mo), Bear ($2,342/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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