Renters More Likely to Be Cost-Burdened, Study Finds

A study by scholars at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University finds that renters around the country are more likely to pay a larger share of their income on housing than homeowners do.

1 minute read

September 10, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Downtown Reno

Prayitno / Downtown Reno

How much of your wages are spent on housing costs? If you spend 30% of your income on rent or a mortgage payment (and property taxes), you are considered rent-burdened by the Joint Center for Housing of Harvard University. Pay over 50% and you are severely rent-burdened. According to the Center’s recent "State of the Nation’s Housing Report," high rents and low wages mean renters are more likely to find themselves burdened or severely burdened.

Cities with economic opportunities are often expensive to rent in, and more than 50% of renters in Reno and Nevada find themselves in that position. Chris Herbert, the Center's manager, says part of the problem is the housing market. "More and more people are struggling to get into homeownership because of the lack of entry-level homes and tighter lending practices," Shannon Wright reports for NPR. "He said local governments can use zoning laws, building codes and the building approval process to improve the situation."

The other aspect of the problem has to do with wages. Home prices have grown faster than wages, particularly for those at the lower end of the income scale.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019 in NPR

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

4 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA