Here’s how many households spend over half their income on rent in every state

Pixabay It is no secret that millennials and many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting–but whether that saves money or wastes it largely depends on how long a household intends to stay there. Since 1981 the government has defined people spending more than 30% of their income on housing as “cost-burdened,” while those spending more than 50% of their income are “severely cost-burdened.” Stacker examined 2021 Census Bureau data, released in 2022, to find how many renters in each state spend more than half their income on housing. Aside from housing, Americans incur necessary monthly expenses such as groceries, utilities, child care, insurance, and more. In areas where housing is expensive, or the median household income is low, it becomes harder for families to juggle the rising cost of living. Keep reading to discover which states lead the pack in households paying more than half of their income to pay rent. You may also like: Best lake towns to live in #51. South Dakota Sdgjake // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 109,257 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 15.11% — Households making less than $10K: 64.70% — Households making $10K-20K: 45.79% — Households making $20K-35K: 10.72% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.35% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.20% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #50. North Dakota Cubcake76 // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 118,962 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 16.85% — Households making less than $10K: 68.29% — Households making $10K-20K: 50.77% — Households making $20K-35K: 15.80% — Households making $35K-50K: 1.45% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.05% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.50% #49. Montana Robstutz // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 137,088 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 17.42% — Households making less than $10K: 60.13% — Households making $10K-20K: 56.86% — Households making $20K-35K: 17.64% — Households making $35K-50K: 2.57% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.95% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.48% — Households making $100K or more: 0.41% #48. Idaho Tamanoeconomico // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 195,010 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 18.16% — Households making less than $10K: 63.77% — Households making $10K-20K: 54.94% — Households making $20K-35K: 27.38% — Households making $35K-50K: 7.36% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.69% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.49% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #47. Maine Pixabay – Households that rent: 149,395 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 18.35% — Households making less than $10K: 49.88% — Households making $10K-20K: 38.06% — Households making $20K-35K: 26.66% — Households making $35K-50K: 6.29% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.06% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.76% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #46. New Hampshire Richard Cavalleri // Shutterstock – Households that rent: 150,801 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 18.54% — Households making less than $10K: 60.86% — Households making $10K-20K: 57.68% — Households making $20K-35K: 36.60% — Households making $35K-50K: 13.79% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.15% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.33% — Households making $100K or more: 0.63% #45. Arkansas Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 390,637 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 19.19% — Households making less than $10K: 53.46% — Households making $10K-20K: 53.20% — Households making $20K-35K: 15.25% — Households making $35K-50K: 2.12% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.57% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.32% — Households making $100K or more: 0.12% #44. Utah Tricia Simpson // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 333,437 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 19.73% — Households making less than $10K: 62.98% — Households making $10K-20K: 70.55% — Households making $20K-35K: 36.67% — Households making $35K-50K: 11.27% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.28% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.42% — Households making $100K or more: 0.20% #43. Kansas Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 382,286 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 19.74% — Households making less than $10K: 66.83% — Households making $10K-20K: 55.17% — Households making $20K-35K: 23.38% — Households making $35K-50K: 2.24% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.52% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.01% — Households making $100K or more: 0.17% #42. Wisconsin Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 781,395 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 19.82% — Households making less than $10K: 67.0% — Households making $10K-20K: 59.05% — Households making $20K-35K: 22.63% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.88% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.03% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.50% — Households making $100K or more: 0.15% #41. Oklahoma MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 534,130 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.13% — Households making less than $10K: 61.29% — Households making $10K-20K: 55.91% — Households making $20K-35K: 14.90% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.08% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.70% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.11% — Households making $100K or more: 0.24% #40. Indiana Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 774,845 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.28% — Households making less than $10K: 61.64% — Households making $10K-20K: 58.52% — Households making $20K-35K: 19.57% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.60% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.72% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.41% — Households making $100K or more: 0.88% #39. Ohio Wdzinc // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,586,436 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.34% — Households making less than $10K: 55.92% — Households making $10K-20K: 55.45% — Households making $20K-35K: 18.64% — Households making $35K-50K: 4.16% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.81% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.52% — Households making $100K or more: 0.54% #38. Kentucky Pixabay – Households that rent: 559,686 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.39% — Households making less than $10K: 56.75% — Households making $10K-20K: 49.81% — Households making $20K-35K: 17.51% — Households making $35K-50K: 1.92% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.22% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.21% — Households making $100K or more: 0.15% #37. Iowa Boscophotos // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 365,356 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.44% — Households making less than $10K: 66.53% — Households making $10K-20K: 54.13% — Households making $20K-35K: 18.55% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.57% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.72% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.83% — Households making $100K or more: 0.59% #36. Alaska Wonderlane // Flickr – Households that rent: 90,166 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.45% — Households making less than $10K: 59.77% — Households making $10K-20K: 59.93% — Households making $20K-35K: 41.85% — Households making $35K-50K: 17.15% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.51% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #35. Missouri AbeEzekowitz // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 770,131 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.54% — Households making less than $10K: 64.77% — Households making $10K-20K: 55.35% — Households making $20K-35K: 19.32% — Households making $35K-50K: 4.12% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.99% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.12% — Households making $100K or more: 0.05% #34. Nebraska Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 253,400 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 20.77% — Households making less than $10K: 69.28% — Households making $10K-20K: 52.42% — Households making $20K-35K: 23.23% — Households making $35K-50K: 6.35% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.04% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.29% — Households making $100K or more: 0.16% #33. Tennessee U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development // Flickr – Households that rent: 901,349 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 21.22% — Households making less than $10K: 58.06% — Households making $10K-20K: 54.50% — Households making $20K-35K: 27.46% — Households making $35K-50K: 7.53% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.13% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.55% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #32. Wyoming Jeffrey Beal // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 69,516 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 21.71% — Households making less than $10K: 78.19% — Households making $10K-20K: 45.75% — Households making $20K-35K: 23.78% — Households making $35K-50K: 0.30% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.36% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #31. North Carolina Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,385,421 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 21.98% — Households making less than $10K: 60.03% — Households making $10K-20K: 61.19% — Households making $20K-35K: 30.98% — Households making $35K-50K: 5.40% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.28% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.59% — Households making $100K or more: 0.27% #30. Washington D.C. Pixabay – Households that rent: 186,629 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.23% — Households making less than $10K: 56.33% — Households making $10K-20K: 65.57% — Households making $20K-35K: 50.76% — Households making $35K-50K: 23.20% — Households making $50K-75K: 9.24% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.44% — Households making $100K or more: 0.41% #29. Minnesota Payton Chung // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 615,932 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.42% — Households making less than $10K: 66.18% — Households making $10K-20K: 57.73% — Households making $20K-35K: 36.84% — Households making $35K-50K: 10.44% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.28% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.87% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #28. Alabama Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 589,627 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.51% — Households making less than $10K: 61.15% — Households making $10K-20K: 50.97% — Households making $20K-35K: 19.25% — Households making $35K-50K: 4.34% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.66% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.14% #27. Washington Joe Mabel // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,088,354 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.63% — Households making less than $10K: 60.73% — Households making $10K-20K: 67.92% — Households making $20K-35K: 52.27% — Households making $35K-50K: 20.33% — Households making $50K-75K: 6.21% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.91% — Households making $100K or more: 0.42% #26. South Carolina North Charleston // Flickr – Households that rent: 578,676 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.90% — Households making less than $10K: 56.02% — Households making $10K-20K: 60.32% — Households making $20K-35K: 28.36% — Households making $35K-50K: 5.69% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.33% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.98% — Households making $100K or more: 0.14% #25. Pennsylvania Shuvaev // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,571,478 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 22.99% — Households making less than $10K: 62.41% — Households making $10K-20K: 57.59% — Households making $20K-35K: 31.70% — Households making $35K-50K: 7.79% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.0% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.23% — Households making $100K or more: 0.46% #24. New Mexico MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 254,299 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.04% — Households making less than $10K: 60.92% — Households making $10K-20K: 56.89% — Households making $20K-35K: 23.09% — Households making $35K-50K: 3.76% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.89% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.50% — Households making $100K or more: 0.72% #23. West Virginia Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 179,396 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.10% — Households making less than $10K: 55.69% — Households making $10K-20K: 46.89% — Households making $20K-35K: 16.44% — Households making $35K-50K: 1.95% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.0% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #22. Illinois Colin J Bird // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,620,987 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.40% — Households making less than $10K: 56.42% — Households making $10K-20K: 62.93% — Households making $20K-35K: 37.18% — Households making $35K-50K: 9.48% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.65% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.24% — Households making $100K or more: 0.53% #21. Virginia Morgan Riley // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,079,291 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.44% — Households making less than $10K: 62.99% — Households making $10K-20K: 67.39% — Households making $20K-35K: 43.01% — Households making $35K-50K: 17.07% — Households making $50K-75K: 4.59% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.91% — Households making $100K or more: 0.53% #20. Mississippi Jerrye & Roy Klotz // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 342,543 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.58% — Households making less than $10K: 58.95% — Households making $10K-20K: 51.79% — Households making $20K-35K: 19.0% — Households making $35K-50K: 1.11% — Households making $50K-75K: 0.43% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.0% — Households making $100K or more: 0.23% #19. Texas Pixabay – Households that rent: 4,035,245 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.71% — Households making less than $10K: 62.94% — Households making $10K-20K: 73.08% — Households making $20K-35K: 40.48% — Households making $35K-50K: 9.87% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.48% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.65% — Households making $100K or more: 0.17% #18. Rhode Island Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 161,721 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.78% — Households making less than $10K: 68.33% — Households making $10K-20K: 41.83% — Households making $20K-35K: 41.21% — Households making $35K-50K: 9.60% — Households making $50K-75K: 3.65% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.80% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #17. Arizona Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 912,033 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 23.85% — Households making less than $10K: 61.44% — Households making $10K-20K: 73.48% — Households making $20K-35K: 45.05% — Households making $35K-50K: 15.22% — Households making $50K-75K: 3.04% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.42% — Households making $100K or more: 0.59% #16. Georgia Marcia Todd // Flickr – Households that rent: 1,358,983 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 24.12% — Households making less than $10K: 61.63% — Households making $10K-20K: 64.78% — Households making $20K-35K: 40.66% — Households making $35K-50K: 10.17% — Households making $50K-75K: 2.09% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.58% — Households making $100K or more: 0.12% #15. Michigan Elisa.rolle // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,085,451 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 24.20% — Households making less than $10K: 64.42% — Households making $10K-20K: 59.74% — Households making $20K-35K: 28.06% — Households making $35K-50K: 5.71% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.21% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.43% — Households making $100K or more: 0.35% #14. Massachusetts IIP Photo Archive // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 1,016,582 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 24.64% — Households making less than $10K: 57.14% — Households making $10K-20K: 50.95% — Households making $20K-35K: 52.22% — Households making $35K-50K: 26.26% — Households making $50K-75K: 7.81% — Households making $75K-100K: 2.15% — Households making $100K or more: 0.66% #13. Colorado Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 766,809 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 24.90% — Households making less than $10K: 62.55% — Households making $10K-20K: 70.31% — Households making $20K-35K: 58.21% — Households making $35K-50K: 23.70% — Households making $50K-75K: 5.49% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.86% — Households making $100K or more: 0.39% #12. Vermont Mfwills // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 73,872 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 24.98% — Households making less than $10K: 70.71% — Households making $10K-20K: 61.46% — Households making $20K-35K: 35.64% — Households making $35K-50K: 10.79% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.06% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.96% — Households making $100K or more: 0.68% #11. Oregon Visitor7 // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 616,569 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 25.25% — Households making less than $10K: 63.62% — Households making $10K-20K: 71.35% — Households making $20K-35K: 52.01% — Households making $35K-50K: 13.16% — Households making $50K-75K: 3.0% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.47% — Households making $100K or more: 0.22% #10. Maryland Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 757,989 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 25.51% — Households making less than $10K: 58.61% — Households making $10K-20K: 70.58% — Households making $20K-35K: 59.78% — Households making $35K-50K: 23.71% — Households making $50K-75K: 6.07% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.84% — Households making $100K or more: 0.56% #9. Connecticut Woodward, Ashbel, House // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 476,797 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 25.77% — Households making less than $10K: 62.79% — Households making $10K-20K: 60.01% — Households making $20K-35K: 45.57% — Households making $35K-50K: 17.76% — Households making $50K-75K: 3.95% — Households making $75K-100K: 2.22% — Households making $100K or more: 0.97% #8. Delaware Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 108,545 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 26.0% — Households making less than $10K: 66.86% — Households making $10K-20K: 71.49% — Households making $20K-35K: 45.21% — Households making $35K-50K: 14.72% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.93% — Households making $75K-100K: 2.12% — Households making $100K or more: 0.08% #7. New Jersey Pixabay – Households that rent: 1,244,971 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 26.28% — Households making less than $10K: 61.30% — Households making $10K-20K: 64.27% — Households making $20K-35K: 61.40% — Households making $35K-50K: 25.88% — Households making $50K-75K: 5.58% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.98% — Households making $100K or more: 0.34% #6. Louisiana Infrogmation of New Orleans // Flickr – Households that rent: 583,014 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 26.29% — Households making less than $10K: 58.60% — Households making $10K-20K: 58.04% — Households making $20K-35K: 24.50% — Households making $35K-50K: 5.04% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.02% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.31% — Households making $100K or more: 0.0% #5. Nevada Luke H. Gordon // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 486,832 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 26.62% — Households making less than $10K: 61.06% — Households making $10K-20K: 81.69% — Households making $20K-35K: 49.79% — Households making $35K-50K: 15.36% — Households making $50K-75K: 1.49% — Households making $75K-100K: 0.14% — Households making $100K or more: 0.12% #4. California Pixabay – Households that rent: 5,926,357 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 27.57% — Households making less than $10K: 62.16% — Households making $10K-20K: 70.51% — Households making $20K-35K: 64.87% — Households making $35K-50K: 37.35% — Households making $50K-75K: 13.60% — Households making $75K-100K: 3.69% — Households making $100K or more: 0.96% #3. New York Rtd2101 // Wikimedia Commons – Households that rent: 3,413,629 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 27.66% — Households making less than $10K: 66.86% — Households making $10K-20K: 63.84% — Households making $20K-35K: 48.10% — Households making $35K-50K: 24.39% — Households making $50K-75K: 8.42% — Households making $75K-100K: 3.57% — Households making $100K or more: 0.86% #2. Hawaii karamysh // Shutterstock – Households that rent: 183,427 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 28.31% — Households making less than $10K: 57.42% — Households making $10K-20K: 67.16% — Households making $20K-35K: 58.43% — Households making $35K-50K: 42.56% — Households making $50K-75K: 21.71% — Households making $75K-100K: 6.97% — Households making $100K or more: 1.30% #1. Florida Pixabay – Households that rent: 2,793,000 – Households that pay 50% or more on rent: 28.60% — Households making less than $10K: 60.25% — Households making $10K-20K: 76.78% — Households making $20K-35K: 55.25% — Households making $35K-50K: 18.50% — Households making $50K-75K: 4.21% — Households making $75K-100K: 1.06% — Households making $100K or more: 0.67%