How much do you need to earn to afford 1-BR rent in every US state
In the US, rent is becoming more and more affordable, especially for people who don’t want to live with roommates. In New York City, for example, average cost of renting 1 bedroom increased by 46.7% over last year.
And New York isn’t even the state where renters need to make the most money to afford one-bedroom rent.
In one recent report on the state of affordable housingUnited Way of the National Capital Region used data from the National Alliance for Low-Income Housing (NLIHC) to determine the annual income needed to pay both one- and two-bedroom rents across the United States. Ky
United Way defines affordable housing as the amount that households earning between 0% and 50% of an area’s median annual income can afford. Depending on the state, the annual income needed to pay one-bedroom rent ranges from about $24,500 to about $64,600.
Here’s the minimum income you’ll need to earn to afford one-bedroom rent in all 50 states, as well as the actual median income that renters earn in each location.
Alabama
Annual income needed to pay for one bedroom: $27,100
Average household income for renters: $30,668
Alaska
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $38,005
Average household income for tenants: $56,286
Arizona
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $37,593
Average household income for tenants: $42,511
Arkansas
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $24,587
Average household income for tenants: 31,886 USD
California
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $64,615
Average household income for tenants: $56,378
Colorado
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $46,148
Average household income for tenants: $49.179
Connecticut
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $46,096
Average household income for tenants: $44,771
Delaware
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $38,439
Average household income for tenants: $43,616
Florida
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $41,953
Average household income for tenants: $41,337
Georgia
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $34,864
Average household income for tenants: $40,111
Hawaii
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $60,027
Average household income for tenants: $60.215
Idaho
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $28,644
Average household income for tenants: $36,558
Illinois
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $38,891
Average household income for tenants: $40,623
Indiana
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $27,932
Average household income for tenants: $34,285
Iowa
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $26,227
Average household income for tenants: $35,771
Kansas
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $27,774
Average household income for tenants: $38,426
Kentucky
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: 26,205 dollars
Average household income for tenants: $32,359
Louisiana
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $30,756
Average household income for tenants: $29,979
Maine
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $34,992
Average household income for tenants: $34,153
Maryland
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $49.860
Average household income for tenants: $53,894
Massachusetts
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: 61,163 dollars
Average household income for tenants: $49.546
Michigan
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $30,590
Average household income for tenants: $34,728
Minnesota
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $36,189
Average household income for tenants: $41,414
Mississippi
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $26,227
Average household income for tenants: $29,358
Missouri
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: 27,602 dollars
Average household income for tenants: $35,632
Montana
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $28,715
Average household income for tenants: $ 36,087
Nebraska
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: 27,801 USD
Average household income for tenants: $38,707
Nevada
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $36,897
Average household income for tenants: $44,034
New Hampshire
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $39,978
Average household income for tenants: $46,042
New shirt
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $54,677
Average household income for tenants: $50,446
New Mexico
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $35,814
Average household income for tenants: $33,417
New York
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $60,962
Average household income for tenants: $48,924
North Carolina
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $32,439
Average household income for tenants: $37.246
North Dakota
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $27.653
Average household income for tenants: $42,634
Ohio
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $ 27,351
Average household income for tenants: $34,355
Oklahoma
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $26,790
Average household income for tenants: $35,531
Oregon
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $43,321
Average household income for tenants: $42,991
Pennsylvania
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $33,661
Average household income for tenants: $37,588
Rhode Island
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $38,711
Average household income for tenants: $37,469
South Carolina
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $32,239
Average household income for tenants: $35,209
South Dakota
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $25,167
Average household income for tenants: $35,455
Tennessee
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $30,475
Average household income for tenants: $35,589
Texas
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $37,841
Average household income for tenants: $43,372
Utah
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $34,761
Average household income for tenants: $45,915
Vermont
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $ 39,178
Average household income for tenants: $37.254
Virginia
Annual income needed to afford one bedroom rent: $43,501
Average household income for tenants: $53,175
Washington
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $49.877
Average household income for tenants: $52,592
West Virginia
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $25,214
Average household income for tenants: $27,921
Wisconsin
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $29.896
Average household income for tenants: $37,825
Wyoming
Annual income required to pay one bedroom rent: $28.493
Average household income for tenants: $42,634
The median income renters for their area did not meet the income needed in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Of these 11 countries, Massachusetts has the largest deficit. Renting a one-bedroom apartment requires an annual income of over $61,000, but the median household income for renters is less than $50,000.
United Way found some cities also run into serious deficits. In San Francisco, you need to make $116,000 to buy a one-bedroom at fair market value, but renters only make a median income of $93,303 – a difference of more than $22,000.
Register now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter
Do not miss: Microsoft CEO: My 2-step rule for having tough conversations at work