Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Downingtown, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.

Downingtown rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Downingtown median rent
$2,452/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Pennsylvania)
$93,535/yr
Rent as % of income
31.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,795, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,338/mo in rent. Downingtown's median rent of $2,452 exceeds that threshold by $114/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 54.5 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Downingtown, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Ardmore, PA
$2,448/mo (31.4% of income)
Bryn Mawr, PA
$2,448/mo (31.4% of income)
Malvern, PA
$2,447/mo (31.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Downingtown

View full rent data for Downingtown, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Downingtown, PA?

Median rent in Downingtown is $2,452 a month. A typical registered nurse in Pennsylvania earns about $93,535 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% 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 Downingtown?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Pennsylvania (~$93,535/yr) supports up to $2,338 a month in rent. Downingtown's current median rent is $2,452/mo, which is $114/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $45 an hour, a registered nurse in Pennsylvania works roughly 54.5 hours a month to cover Downingtown's median rent of $2,452.

Where is rent cheaper than Downingtown for a registered nurse?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Ardmore ($2,448/mo), Bryn Mawr ($2,448/mo), Malvern ($2,447/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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