The full explanation
A household is rent-burdened when it spends 30% or more of its income on housing, and severely burdened when it spends half or more; that 30% is the same share of adjusted income HUD sets as the tenant's payment in its rental assistance programs. On your county pages we show what share of renter households is in each situation.
An example
In Lucía's county, more than half of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing. That tells her rents weigh heavily against local wages.
With real numbers
Computed with official data for the whole U.S. In your county the numbers may differ.
- Spend 30% or more
- 51%
- Spend 50% or more
- 26%
In the U.S., 51% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent. And 26% spend 50% or more: that is called a severe burden.
Computed with: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
In numbers: rent burden
Renters with a rent burden: the national figure and some of the 52 states, from highest to lowest, with the same source and the same date.
- Nationwide
- 51%
| State | Figure | vs. US |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 60% | +18% |
| New Jersey | 52% | +0.9% |
| Virginia | 49% | −5.0% |
| Oklahoma | 46% | −9.4% |
| North Dakota | 39% | −24% |
If a document mentions "rent burden", think of these figures: in Florida it is 60%; in North Dakota, 39%; nationwide, 51%.
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024)
Where you see it on the site
You will see it in…
- Your county page, under “Renter households”
- Census (ACS) tables on gross rent as a percentage of income
- Our “how much rent can I afford” calculator
