HomeUnion has released a list of the most and least affordable rental housing markets in the U.S. Chicago tops the list as the most affordable metro, while Oakland, Calif., is the most expensive rental market, based on rent-to-income ratios.
“With its low cost of living, relatively large housing inventory levels and high affordability, Chicago is an excellent market for residents entering the renting pool,” says Steve Hovland, Director of Research for HomeUnion. It’s is the only metro in the country where typical renters spend less than 20% of their annual income on housing. Emerging neighborhoods like Logan Square and other West Side locations have become increasingly popular areas for young professionals, making Chicago an excellent choice for millennials.
The second location on HomeUnion’s list – Charlotte, N.C. – also has a low cost of living and high affordability, with average annual rents of under $16,000. “About one-quarter of the average income of a typical Charlotte resident goes to rental housing, making it appealing to millennials as well,” says Hovland.
Here’s a list of the 10 most affordable rental markets in the nation:
“Low affordability negatively impacts all renters in the Bay Area, Denver, Southern California and Washington, D.C., because of strong local job market conditions, intense demand for rental properties, and high mortgage costs for owner-occupied housing,” Hovland says.
Established and mature markets, such as Cincinnati and Cleveland, where home prices remain affordable, negatively impact renters’ wallets. “A significant number of potential young renters are migrating out of Ohio to Chicago or booming western metros such as Denver, the Bay Area and Los Angeles, leaving mostly low-wage earners to occupy rentals,” Hovland concludes.
Related Stories
Market Data | Sep 27, 2019
The global hotel construction pipeline ascends to new record highs
With the exception of Latin America, all regions of the globe either continued to set record high pipeline counts or have already settled into topping-out formations amidst concerns of a worldwide economic slowdown.
Market Data | Sep 25, 2019
Senate introduces The School Safety Clearinghouse Act
Legislation would create a federally funded and housed informational resource on safer school designs.
Market Data | Sep 18, 2019
Substantial decline in Architecture Billings
August report suggests greatest weakness in design activity in several years.
Market Data | Sep 17, 2019
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator inches lower in July
Backlog in the heavy industrial category increased by 2.3 months and now stands at its highest level in the history of the CBI series.
Market Data | Sep 13, 2019
Spending on megaprojects, already on the rise, could spike hard in the coming years
A new FMI report anticipates that megaprojects will account for one-fifth of annual construction spending within the next decade.
Architects | Sep 11, 2019
Buoyed by construction activity, architect compensation continues to see healthy gains
The latest AIA report breaks down its survey data by 44 positions and 28 metros.
Market Data | Sep 11, 2019
New 2030 Commitment report findings emphasize need for climate action
Profession must double down on efforts to meet 2030 targets.
Market Data | Sep 10, 2019
Apartment buildings and their residents contribute $3.4 trillion to the national economy
New data show how different aspects of the apartment industry positively impact national, state and local economies.
Market Data | Sep 3, 2019
Nonresidential construction spending slips in July 2019, but still surpasses $776 billion
Construction spending declined 0.3% in July, totaling $776 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis.
Industry Research | Aug 29, 2019
Construction firms expect labor shortages to worsen over the next year
A new AGC-Autodesk survey finds more companies turning to technology to support their jobsites.