Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Lexington, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.6% of gross income.

Lexington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Lexington median rent
$1,651/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Virginia)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
20.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $1,651 leaves roughly $758/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 35.6 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Henrico, VA
$1,649/mo (20.5% of income)
Henrico, VA
$1,648/mo (20.5% of income)
East Highland Park, VA
$1,646/mo (20.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lexington, VA?

Median rent in Lexington is $1,651 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 20.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,651/mo, which leaves a $758/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 35.6 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,651.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a registered nurse?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Henrico ($1,649/mo), Henrico ($1,648/mo), East Highland Park ($1,646/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

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