- An organization on housing issues, analyzed data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) to determine how much people in each state should earn to rent a room in the US.
It is no surprise to anyone that life is becoming more expensive in the United States. Rents are through the roof, especially for individuals or couples who want to live alone. Renting a one-bedroom unit is a viable option for those who want to live independently, but that doesn’t mean it’s affordable. Since in most states of the country, high average incomes are needed to pay the rental costs this 2022.
The United Way of the National Capital Area used data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) to determine the annual income needed to pay for one- and two-bedroom rents in the U.S. The United Way defines affordable housing as the amount that households earning 0% to 50% of an area’s median annual income can afford. Depending on the state, the annual income needed to pay rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from $24,500 to $64,600.
Here’s the minimum income you must earn to pay rent for a room in all 50 US states, as well as the actual median income renters earn in each location.
Alabama
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $27,100
Median Renter Household Income: $30,668
Alaska
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $38,005
Median Renter Household Income: $56,286
Arizona
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $37,593
Median Renter Household Income: $42,511
Arkansas
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $24,587
Median Renter Household Income: $31,886
California
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $64,615
Median Renter Household Income: $56,378
North Carolina
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $32,439
Median Renter Household Income: $37,246
South Carolina
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $32,239
Median Renter Household Income: $35,209
Colorado
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $46,148
Median Renter Household Income: $49,179
Connecticut
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $46,096
Median Renter Household Income: $44,771
North Dakota
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $27,653
Median Renter Household Income: $42,634
South Dakota
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $25,167
Median Renter Household Income: $35,455
Delaware
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $38,439
Median Renter Household Income: $43,616
Florida
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $41,953
Median Renter Household Income: $41,337
Georgia
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $34,864
Median Renter Household Income: $40,111
Hawaii
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $60,027
Median Renter Household Income: $60,215
Idaho
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $28,644
Median Renter Household Income: $36,558
Illinois
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $38,891
Median Renter Household Income: $40,623
Indiana
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $27,932
Median Renter Household Income: $34,285
Iowa
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $26,227
Median Renter Household Income: $35,771
Kansas
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $27,774
Median Renter Household Income: $38,426
Kentucky
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $26,205
Median Renter Household Income: $32,359
Louisiana
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $30,756
Median Renter Household Income: $29,979
Maine
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $34,992
Median Renter Household Income: $34,153
Maryland
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $49,860
Median Renter Household Income: $53,894
Massachusetts
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $61,163
Median Renter Household Income: $49,546
Michigan
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $30,590
Median Renter Household Income: $34,728
Minnesota
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $36,189
Median Renter Household Income: $41,414
Mississippi
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $26,227
Median Renter Household Income: $29,358
Missouri
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $27,602
Median Renter Household Income: $35,632
Mountain
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $28,715
Median Renter Household Income: $36,087
Nebraska
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $27,801
Median Renter Household Income: $38,707
Snowfall
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $36,897
Median Renter Household Income: $44,034
New Hampshire
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $39,978
Median Renter Household Income: $46,042
New Jersey
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $54,677
Median Renter Household Income: $50,446
New Mexico
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $35,814
Median Renter Household Income: $33,417
New York
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $60,962
Median Renter Household Income: $48,924
Ohio
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $27,351
Median Renter Household Income: $34,355
Oklahoma
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $26,790
Median Renter Household Income: $35,531
Oregon
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $43,321
Median Renter Household Income: $42,991
Pennsylvania
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $33,661
Median Renter Household Income: $37,588
Rhode Island
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $38,711
Median Renter Household Income: $37,469
Tennessee
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $30,475
Median Renter Household Income: $35,589
Texas
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $37,841
Median Renter Household Income: $43,372
Utah
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $34,761
Median Renter Household Income: $45,915
Vermont
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $39,178
Median Renter Household Income: $37,254
Virginia
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $43,501
Median Renter Household Income: $53,175
Washington
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $49,877
Median Renter Household Income: $52,592
West Virginia
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $25,214
Median Renter Household Income: $27,921
Wisconsin
Annual income needed to pay rent for a bedroom: $29,896
Median Renter Household Income: $37,825
Wyoming
Annual income needed to pay rent for a room: $28,493
Median Renter Household Income: $42,634