California Leads in Income Thresholds for Comfortable Renting

Categories: California Business NewsCalifornia News

The skyline of California cities like San Jose showcases the high rental costs impacting residents.

News Summary

California faces a pressing rental crisis, with five of the top eight U.S. metro areas requiring six-figure incomes for comfortable living. San Jose tops the list, needing $136,532, while other areas like San Francisco and San Diego also demand substantial earnings. The rising housing costs reflect increased rent burdens affecting residents of the state. Nationally, a growing percentage of renters are cost-burdened, with California leading the way in housing affordability challenges, particularly for minority households. This situation is exacerbated by the end of historic rental assistance programs.

California Dominates Nation in Income Thresholds Required for Financially Comfortable Rental Living

California is facing a significant rental crisis, with five out of the eight U.S. metropolitan areas that require a six-figure income for financially comfortable renting located within the state. As housing costs continue to rise, new data from Zillow highlights the strain on household finances across the 50 largest metro areas in the country.

In April, the typical renter in the San Jose metro area needed an annual income of $136,532, the highest rental income threshold in the nation. Despite the growing burden, San Jose experienced a 13% increase in rent burden over the past five years, the second smallest among the largest 50 metros. The average rent in San Jose was reported to be $3,413 a month, which accounted for 25% of median income, ranking it the 18th largest share in the country.

The San Francisco metro area follows closely behind, with an income threshold of $124,267, making it the fourth highest nationally. San Francisco witnessed a 9% increase in rent burdens over five years, the smallest increase among the major metros. Here, the typical rent was $3,107, which represented 28% of local incomes, ranking it No. 13 nationally.

San Diego County ranks fifth in the nation with an income threshold of $122,810. However, this area has seen a drastic 41% increase in rent burden in the past five years. Monthly rent in San Diego County averaged $3,070, consuming 33% of median income, the fifth highest share in the U.S. Meanwhile, both Los Angeles and Orange Counties share an income threshold of $118,958, placing them sixth nationally and experiencing a 28% rise in burden over the five years. Here, the midpoint rent was $2,974, equal to 36% of local incomes, the third highest share in the country.

Moving inland, the Inland Empire tenants need to earn $102,722, ranking eighth among the 50 metro areas with a 46% increase in rent burden over the last five years. With an average rent of $2,568, this region consumes 33% of local incomes, placing it sixth nationally. In Sacramento, the only California metro area under the $100,000 threshold, renters need $94,002 annually, ranking 10th in the nation. With typical rents of $2,350, it takes up 28% of incomes, placing it at No. 12.

Nationally, the required income threshold for renters is $80,949, reflecting a 35% increase over five years. The average rent across the U.S. is $2,024, which represents roughly 30% of a typical American household’s income. California’s multifamily housing construction costs are significantly higher than those in Texas, costing over twice as much and 1.5 times more than Colorado. Regulatory costs in California can add more than 22 months to project timelines, greatly inflating prices compared to other states. Additionally, publicly subsidized affordable housing often costs more per square foot than luxury market-rate developments.

The economic strain on California’s renters has intensified recently; in 2022, more than 53.8% of California renter households were considered cost burdened, with nearly 30% spending more than half their income on rent. Comparatively, by 2023, nearly half (49%) of all renters in the U.S. were also rent-burdened, showing an increase from 40% in 2020. California ranks second highest in the percentage of cost-burdened residents, with median rents hitting $2,803. The impacts of California’s housing crisis are extending beyond its borders, notably affecting Nevada, where rents increased by 34% between 2019 and 2023.

Lastly, the disparity witnessing rental affordability is more pronounced among minority households, with Black and Hispanic renters facing higher rent burdens. It is essential to note that more than 90% of states ended historic levels of rental assistance, which previously aimed to alleviate housing costs during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating the challenges faced by renters today.