Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Oakton, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.2% of gross income.

Oakton rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Oakton median rent
$3,066/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Virginia)
$96,370/yr
Rent as % of income
38.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,031, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,409/mo in rent. Oakton's median rent of $3,066 exceeds that threshold by $657/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 66.2 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 Oakton, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Chantilly, VA
$3,064/mo (38.2% of income)
Purcellville, VA
$3,063/mo (38.1% of income)
Chantilly, VA
$3,059/mo (38.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oakton

View full rent data for Oakton, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Oakton, VA?

Median rent in Oakton is $3,066 a month. A typical registered nurse in Virginia earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 38.2% 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 Oakton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Virginia (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Oakton's current median rent is $3,066/mo, which is $657/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Virginia works roughly 66.2 hours a month to cover Oakton's median rent of $3,066.

Where is rent cheaper than Oakton for a registered nurse?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Chantilly ($3,064/mo), Purcellville ($3,063/mo), Chantilly ($3,059/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 Oakton, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.