Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Rockland, ME?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.

Rockland rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Rockland median rent
$1,688/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Maine)
$87,866/yr
Rent as % of income
23.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,322, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,197/mo in rent. Rockland's median rent of $1,688 leaves roughly $509/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 40 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Rockland, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (23% of income)
Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (23% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,673/mo (22.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rockland

View full rent data for Rockland, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Rockland, ME?

Median rent in Rockland is $1,688 a month. A typical registered nurse in Maine earns about $87,866 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Rockland?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Maine (~$87,866/yr) supports up to $2,197 a month in rent. Rockland's current median rent is $1,688/mo, which leaves a $509/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Maine works roughly 40 hours a month to cover Rockland's median rent of $1,688.

Where is rent cheaper than Rockland for a registered nurse?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Sanford ($1,681/mo), Sanford ($1,681/mo), Auburn ($1,673/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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