Millions of Americans Spend Half Their Paycheck on Rent. Here Are Median Rental Prices by State
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: A sign advertises an apartment for rent along a row of brownstone townhouses in the Fort Greene neighborhood on June 24, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Credit - Drew Angerer/Getty Images
A newly released report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found that in 2022, half of all U.S. renters were cost burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. What’s more, over 12 million Americans were spending at least half their paycheck on rent. The rise in unaffordable housing is coupled with an increase in homelessness across the country— in January 2023, a record all-time high of 653,100 individuals were homeless in the U.S., the report says.
Though renters are feeling the pinch, exactly how much rent prices will cost you varies by state. The median rent cost is highest in Hawaii, where renters spend $1,868 per month. On the other hand, renters in West Virginia pay the least—with median rent prices coming in at $831 per month.
Here’s what renters can expect to pay monthly in each state as of 2022, according to data from the Census’ 2018-2022 American Community Survey.
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Alabama: $925
Alaska: $1,345
Arizona: $1,308
Arkansas: $868
California: $1,856
Colorado: $1,594
Connecticut: $1,374
Delaware: $1,286
D.C. : $1,817
Florida” $1,444
Georgia: $1,221
Hawaii: $1,868
Idaho: $1,061
Illinois: $1,179
Indiana: $967
Iowa: $914
Kansas: $986
Kentucky: $902
Louisiana: $996
Maine: $1,009
Maryland: $1,598
Massachusetts: $1,588
Michigan: $1,037
Minnesota: $1,178
Mississippi: $896
Missouri: $957
Montana: $974
Nebraska: $987
Nevada: $1,382
New Hampshire: $1,336
New Jersey: $1,577
New Mexico: $966
New York: $1,507
North Carolina: $1,093
North Dakota: $912
Ohio: $945
Oklahoma: $934
Oregon: $1,373
Pennsylvania: $1,110
Rhode Island: $1,195
South Carolina: $1,065
South Dakota: $878
Tennessee: $1,047
Texas: $1,251
Utah: $1,302
Vermont: $1,149
Virginia: $1,440
Washington: $1,592
West Virginia: $831
Wisconsin: $992
Wyoming: $933
Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.