Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Newton, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.1% of gross income.

Newton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Newton median rent
$3,567/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Massachusetts)
$109,597/yr
Rent as % of income
39.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,133, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,740/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $3,567 exceeds that threshold by $827/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 67.7 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Newton, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Cambridge, MA
$3,559/mo (39% of income)
Brookline, MA
$3,541/mo (38.8% of income)
Brookline, MA
$3,523/mo (38.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Newton, MA?

Median rent in Newton is $3,567 a month. A typical registered nurse in Massachusetts earns about $109,597 a year, which makes that rent 39.1% 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 Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Massachusetts (~$109,597/yr) supports up to $2,740 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $3,567/mo, which is $827/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $53 an hour, a registered nurse in Massachusetts works roughly 67.7 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $3,567.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a registered nurse?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Cambridge ($3,559/mo), Brookline ($3,541/mo), Brookline ($3,523/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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