What does this rent cost burden ranking show?

It orders states by Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Housing

Lowest rent cost burden by state

Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent.

Share of renter households paying cash rent whose gross rent is 30% or more of household income. Gross rent includes utilities. This is a household budget-pressure measure, not a verdict on whether a place is affordable: it does not capture roommates, housing quality, household choice, subsidies, wealth, or people who have already been priced out. Census ACS 5-year table B25070.

How to read this ranking

North Dakota has the lowest published rent cost burden in this comparison, at 36.3%. The next states shown are South Dakota (36.4%) and Wyoming (38.8%).

The table orders 51 states by renters spending 30%+ of income on rent. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Share of renter households paying cash rent whose gross rent is 30% or more of household income. Gross rent includes utilities. This is a household budget-pressure measure, not a verdict on whether a place is affordable: it does not capture roommates, housing quality, household choice, subsidies, wealth, or people who have already been priced out. Census ACS 5-year table B25070.

1North Dakota36.3%
2South Dakota36.4%
3Wyoming38.8%
4Arkansas39.4%
5Alaska40.4%
6Kansas40.4%
7Kentucky40.4%
8Montana40.4%
9West Virginia40.4%
10Iowa40.5%
11Wisconsin41.1%
12Oklahoma41.7%
13Nebraska41.9%
14Missouri42.0%
15Ohio42.4%
16Alabama42.5%
17Idaho43.4%
18Mississippi43.6%
19Maine44.1%
20District of Columbia44.3%
21Tennessee44.3%
22Indiana44.4%
23Illinois44.5%
24Pennsylvania44.6%
25North Carolina44.7%
26Utah44.8%
27New Mexico45.0%
28Vermont45.2%
29Minnesota45.3%
30Virginia45.3%
31Rhode Island45.4%
32New Hampshire45.7%
33South Carolina46.3%
34Michigan46.4%
35Delaware46.6%
36Washington47.5%
37Louisiana47.7%
38Arizona48.0%
39Georgia48.4%
40Texas48.5%
41Maryland48.7%
42Massachusetts48.9%
43New Jersey49.1%
44New York49.2%
45Connecticut49.3%
46Oregon49.5%
47Colorado50.4%
48Hawaii52.1%
49California52.5%
50Nevada52.8%
51Florida56.3%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year. · How this is built

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