Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Mount Vernon, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.6% of gross income.

Mount Vernon rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Mount Vernon median rent
$2,775/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Virginia)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
34.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Mount Vernon's median rent of $2,775 exceeds that threshold by $366/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 59.9 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 Mount Vernon, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Ashburn, VA
$2,772/mo (34.5% of income)
Springfield, VA
$2,770/mo (34.5% of income)
McLean, VA
$2,769/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mount Vernon

View full rent data for Mount Vernon, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Mount Vernon, VA?

Median rent in Mount Vernon is $2,775 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 34.6% 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 Mount Vernon?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Mount Vernon's current median rent is $2,775/mo, which is $366/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 59.9 hours a month to cover Mount Vernon's median rent of $2,775.

Where is rent cheaper than Mount Vernon for a registered nurse?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Ashburn ($2,772/mo), Springfield ($2,770/mo), McLean ($2,769/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 Mount Vernon, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.