Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

1 minute read

March 22, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Houston, Texas skyline.

Houston, Texas. | Kovcs / Adobe Stock

A new report from the  National Low Income Housing Coalition reveals that “Houston has the second-most severe shortage of rental homes that are affordable to extremely low-income households,” with Texas tying for third-worst among states.

Roy Kent describes the study in Urban Edge, noting that “ the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area has just 15 affordable and available rental homes per 100 renter households. That means there is an 85% deficit in affordable housing options.”

The Houston area was second to the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise metro area in lack of affordability. Other Texas metros also make the list: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington came in third, while Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown ranked 10th.

Nationwide, there is a shortage of roughly 3.9 million affordable rental homes. “In the 2022 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report, researchers found that skyrocketing prices for purchasing and renting have kept low-income renters in a cycle of being unable to attain homeownership.”

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Urban Edge

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

15 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News