New York Renters Spend Half Their Income on Rent. These States Spend the Least.
The cheapest rent is not the same as the most affordable rent. What matters to a household is not just the rental price but how much of their paycheck it eats. By that measure, the gap between states is staggering: renters in the least affordable state spend more than half their income on rent, while renters in the most affordable spend under a fifth. Below is every state ranked by rent burden, the share of the typical local income that goes to the average rent.
State | Rent Burden | Avg. Rent | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
19.2% | $1,206 | $75,252 | |
20.0% | $1,215 | $73,027 | |
20.7% | $1,278 | $74,280 | |
20.9% | $1,725 | $99,015 | |
21.2% | $1,724 | $97,551 | |
21.2% | $1,416 | $80,034 | |
21.3% | $1,744 | $98,057 | |
21.6% | $1,273 | $70,839 | |
22.8% | $1,400 | $73,643 | |
23.5% | $1,423 | $72,790 | |
23.5% | $1,415 | $72,348 | |
23.6% | $1,425 | $72,572 | |
23.6% | $1,339 | $67,990 | |
23.7% | $1,583 | $80,272 | |
23.7% | $1,319 | $66,889 | |
24.0% | $2,070 | $103,527 | |
24.2% | $1,969 | $97,655 | |
24.3% | $2,058 | $101,754 | |
24.3% | $1,727 | $85,296 | |
24.7% | $1,431 | $69,570 | |
25.1% | $1,781 | $85,272 | |
25.1% | $1,637 | $78,157 | |
25.3% | $2,049 | $97,278 | |
25.3% | $1,741 | $82,476 | |
25.3% | $1,645 | $78,100 | |
25.3% | $1,210 | $57,430 | |
25.4% | $1,413 | $66,765 | |
25.4% | $1,371 | $64,784 | |
26.3% | $1,586 | $72,260 | |
26.5% | $1,479 | $66,864 | |
26.9% | $1,799 | $80,196 | |
27.1% | $1,639 | $72,611 | |
27.2% | $1,545 | $68,207 | |
27.8% | $2,040 | $87,902 | |
28.1% | $1,749 | $74,723 | |
29.1% | $2,105 | $86,872 | |
29.5% | $1,514 | $61,647 | |
29.7% | $1,462 | $59,017 | |
30.2% | $1,647 | $65,508 | |
32.0% | $2,812 | $105,554 | |
32.3% | $2,740 | $101,815 | |
32.4% | $2,046 | $75,806 | |
32.8% | $2,008 | $73,379 | |
32.9% | $1,930 | $70,424 | |
33.0% | $2,130 | $77,339 | |
33.5% | $2,923 | $104,637 | |
33.5% | $2,098 | $75,144 | |
33.7% | $2,584 | $92,047 | |
34.8% | $2,216 | $76,468 | |
51.9% | $3,612 | $83,444 |
The most affordable states for renters
Iowa is the most affordable state in the country, where the average rent takes just 19.2% of the typical income, comfortably under the 30% threshold that defines a cost-burdened household. North Dakota (20.0%), South Dakota (20.7%), Alaska (20.9%), and Minnesota (21.2%) round out the top five. These are places where low rents meet solid middle-class incomes, mostly across the Plains and Upper Midwest.
The least affordable states for renters
New York is in a category of its own, where the average rent consumes about 51.9% of the typical income, a figure inflated by New York City rents sitting on top of a wide income distribution. Behind it, Florida (34.8%), New Jersey (33.7%), Rhode Island (33.5%), and Hawaii (33.5%) round out the least affordable states. In each, rent is well past the 30% cost-burden line for the average household.
The Sun Belt affordability trap
The most revealing case is Florida. On raw rent it looks middle of the pack at about $2,216, cheaper than the coastal giants, which is exactly why so many people move there expecting relief. But local incomes have not kept up, so the average Florida renter spends about 34.8% of income on rent, one of the highest burdens in the country. The lesson repeats across the Sun Belt: a moderate rent on a modest income can be harder to carry than a high rent on a high one. The cheap-rent states of the Plains, by contrast, pair low rents with sturdy incomes, which is why they top the affordability list even though nobody thinks of them as bargains.
See the full data behind any state, from Iowa to New York, or check the raw price ranking in our average rent by state breakdown.
Sources
Rent figures: RentDataNow, June 2026, anchored to the Zillow Observed Rent Index. Median household income and population weights: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most affordable state for renters?
Iowa is the most affordable state for renters, where the average rent takes just 19.2% of the typical household income, well under the 30% cost-burden line. North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, and Minnesota follow.
What is the least affordable state for renters?
New York is the least affordable, where the average rent consumes about 51.9% of the typical income. Florida, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii are next, all well past the 30% affordability threshold.
Is Florida affordable for renters?
Not really. Florida rent looks moderate at about $2,216, but local incomes have not kept pace, so the average renter spends about 34.8% of income on rent, one of the highest burdens in the country.
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Henry Jo has been following rental market data longer than he'd like to admit, starting when he was apartment hunting in two cities simultaneously and realized nobody was giving him straight numbers. He writes about rent trends, housing affordability, and the economic forces that make some cities worth moving to and others worth leaving. Henry resides in the Pacific Northwest.
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