Accessible Version
Assessing the Severity of Rent Burden on Low-Income Families Accessible Data
Figure 1: Lowest-income families face severe rent burdens
Percent of income spent on rent
| Income quintiles | Rent/income |
|---|---|
| Lowest | 0.56 |
| 2nd | 0.28 |
| Middle | 0.19 |
| 4th | 0.15 |
| Top | 0.10 |
Source: 2015 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Figure 2: Rent burdens for low-income families have risen over time
Percent of income spent on rent
| 2000 | 2006 | 2009 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest quintile | 0.45 | 0.49 | 0.54 | 0.56 |
| 2nd quintile | 0.22 | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.28 |
Source: The 2000 Decennial Census and the 2006, 2009, and 2015 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Figure 3: Incomes have dropped and rents have risen for low-income families, decreasing "residual incomes"
Monthly amount ($)
| Rent | Income | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 551 | 1,139 |
| 2006 | 588 | 1,102 |
| 2009 | 608 | 1,055 |
| 2015 | 610 | 1,035 |
Source: See Figure 2.
Last Update:
December 22, 2017