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Pulsafi

Rent Burden in the US (2026)

49%
Percent of US renters spending 30%+ of income on housing
Summary

Approximately 49% of US renters are 'rent burdened' — spending 30% or more of their income on housing — in 2026. Severely rent burdened (50%+ of income on rent) reaches 26% of renters. The problem is most acute in coastal metros: 60% of NYC renters and 56% of LA renters are rent burdened. Renters in the bottom income quartile face the worst — 87% are rent burdened.

Breakdown

Rent burdened (30%+)49%
Severely rent burdened (50%+)26%
NYC rent burdened60%
LA rent burdened56%
Bottom quartile renters burdened87%
Source
Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard· As of 2026-Q1

Related stats

Average 1-Bedroom Rent in the US →US Homeownership Rate →

More housing stats

Median US Home PriceAverage Monthly Mortgage PaymentUS Homeownership RateAverage Down Payment on a HouseAverage 1-Bedroom Rent in the USAverage 2-Bedroom Rent in the US
All Pulsafi stats are sourced from primary government data and major financial institutions. Read the full methodology and data-sources page.