Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Waterville, ME?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.8% of gross income.
Waterville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).
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 Waterville, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterville
View full rent data for Waterville, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Waterville, ME?
Median rent in Waterville is $1,377 a month. A typical registered nurse in Maine earns about $87,866 a year, which makes that rent 18.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Waterville?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Maine (~$87,866/yr) supports up to $2,197 a month in rent. Waterville's current median rent is $1,377/mo, which leaves a $820/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Waterville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a registered nurse in Maine works roughly 32.6 hours a month to cover Waterville's median rent of $1,377.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterville for a registered nurse?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Lewiston ($1,375/mo), Augusta ($1,363/mo), Augusta ($1,346/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.