Updated October 15, 2026. Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 (latest available; 2025 results are due later this fall), with 2019 for comparison.
About 22.2 million U.S. renter households, 51.8%, spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024. About 11.2 million (26.1%) spent half or more. The share was highest in Florida (62.1%), Nevada (57.6%) and California (55.8%) and lowest in North Dakota (36.1%), Alaska (41.5%) and South Dakota (41.9%).
The 30% line is a common rule of thumb: above it, people have less left for food, transportation and everything else. Rent here includes utilities the renter pays, such as electricity and gas.
Share of renters paying 30% or more
Every state: renters paying too much
Click a column to sort.
| State | Paying 30%+, 2024 | Paying 50%+, 2024 | Renter households paying 30%+ | Paying 30%+, 2019 | Change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 51.8% | 26.1% | 22,237,262 | 48.4% | +3.3 |
| Alabama | 48.2% | 24.4% | 249,078 | 47.1% | +1.1 |
| Alaska | 41.5% | 18.4% | 34,331 | 44.9% | -3.4 |
| Arizona | 52.4% | 25.1% | 471,576 | 46.5% | +5.9 |
| Arkansas | 45.5% | 20.3% | 164,412 | 43.7% | +1.9 |
| California | 55.8% | 29.0% | 3,230,105 | 53.2% | +2.6 |
| Colorado | 52.5% | 25.1% | 421,941 | 49.9% | +2.6 |
| Connecticut | 54.1% | 27.8% | 247,758 | 49.1% | +5.0 |
| Delaware | 50.3% | 24.2% | 50,922 | 49.4% | +0.9 |
| District of Columbia | 47.7% | 25.0% | 88,599 | 42.7% | +4.9 |
| Florida | 62.1% | 32.1% | 1,698,574 | 55.9% | +6.2 |
| Georgia | 53.1% | 26.6% | 693,416 | 48.4% | +4.7 |
| Hawaii | 55.0% | 28.1% | 95,685 | 53.4% | +1.5 |
| Idaho | 48.4% | 23.4% | 95,728 | 45.7% | +2.7 |
| Illinois | 48.7% | 24.8% | 751,280 | 45.7% | +3.1 |
| Indiana | 48.5% | 24.1% | 364,820 | 45.3% | +3.1 |
| Iowa | 43.2% | 21.7% | 153,444 | 41.8% | +1.5 |
| Kansas | 43.4% | 20.4% | 153,796 | 42.3% | +1.1 |
| Kentucky | 45.2% | 23.0% | 239,265 | 43.3% | +2.0 |
| Louisiana | 54.1% | 28.4% | 278,745 | 52.1% | +2.0 |
| Maine | 50.2% | 23.2% | 76,204 | 43.9% | +6.3 |
| Maryland | 51.5% | 25.7% | 374,272 | 49.9% | +1.7 |
| Massachusetts | 52.4% | 26.0% | 525,676 | 48.8% | +3.5 |
| Michigan | 51.2% | 26.8% | 517,685 | 47.9% | +3.4 |
| Minnesota | 47.7% | 23.0% | 301,298 | 44.0% | +3.7 |
| Mississippi | 50.3% | 25.6% | 149,225 | 48.2% | +2.1 |
| Missouri | 45.2% | 21.7% | 337,094 | 44.3% | +0.9 |
| Montana | 42.7% | 18.9% | 56,869 | 44.8% | -2.1 |
| Nebraska | 46.5% | 21.2% | 119,562 | 41.2% | +5.3 |
| Nevada | 57.6% | 29.4% | 271,317 | 51.1% | +6.5 |
| New Hampshire | 49.4% | 23.2% | 72,376 | 46.9% | +2.5 |
| New Jersey | 52.2% | 26.1% | 636,000 | 49.0% | +3.3 |
| New Mexico | 48.4% | 25.7% | 109,455 | 46.8% | +1.6 |
| New York | 51.5% | 28.6% | 1,735,134 | 50.1% | +1.4 |
| North Carolina | 51.5% | 24.9% | 709,811 | 46.4% | +5.1 |
| North Dakota | 36.1% | 16.8% | 45,970 | 38.1% | -1.9 |
| Ohio | 47.7% | 24.6% | 696,633 | 43.4% | +4.3 |
| Oklahoma | 46.1% | 21.8% | 228,017 | 44.1% | +2.0 |
| Oregon | 52.3% | 26.6% | 316,254 | 48.5% | +3.7 |
| Pennsylvania | 49.4% | 26.0% | 755,447 | 46.9% | +2.5 |
| Rhode Island | 51.1% | 26.2% | 79,217 | 48.9% | +2.2 |
| South Carolina | 52.6% | 26.6% | 288,907 | 47.5% | +5.0 |
| South Dakota | 41.9% | 16.8% | 46,205 | 39.6% | +2.3 |
| Tennessee | 50.2% | 23.3% | 446,266 | 46.4% | +3.8 |
| Texas | 52.7% | 25.5% | 2,125,318 | 48.0% | +4.6 |
| Utah | 48.2% | 21.3% | 164,576 | 44.0% | +4.2 |
| Vermont | 48.8% | 23.6% | 34,749 | 54.5% | -5.6 |
| Virginia | 49.3% | 23.9% | 522,777 | 46.0% | +3.3 |
| Washington | 50.7% | 23.8% | 567,874 | 47.6% | +3.1 |
| West Virginia | 47.0% | 24.4% | 70,857 | 45.6% | +1.4 |
| Wisconsin | 44.9% | 21.3% | 344,705 | 42.4% | +2.6 |
| Wyoming | 42.9% | 18.8% | 28,037 | 44.4% | -1.5 |
Why it matters for small businesses
- Customers have less to spend. When half of renters are stretched, local shops and services feel it.
- Workers feel it too. Compare with how far minimum wage goes toward rent.
- Side income is common. Many people start a small business to make rent. If you do, see how to set up an LLC.
How we counted
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2024 and 2019.
- Rent means gross rent: contract rent plus utilities and fuels the renter pays.
- Who’s left out: renters with no income, a loss, or no cash rent, because the share can’t be figured for them.
- Survey figures have margins of error, especially in smaller states.
Sources
Cite this data
Reporters and bloggers may use these numbers and charts. Please credit StartBusinessByState and link to this page.
Source: StartBusinessByState, “Rent Burden: 52% of U.S. Renters Spend 30% or More of Their Income on Rent,” https://startbusinessbystate.com/rent-burdened-renters/ (updated October 15, 2026).
FAQ
How many renters spend too much on rent?
About 22,237,262 renter households, 51.8%, spent 30% or more of income on rent and utilities in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Which state has the most rent-burdened renters?
Florida (62.1%), followed by Nevada (57.6%) and California (55.8%).
Which state has the fewest?
North Dakota (36.1%), then Alaska (41.5%) and South Dakota (41.9%).
Is it getting worse?
Yes. The share rose from 48.4% in 2019 to 51.8% in 2024.
What does rent-burdened mean?
Paying 30% or more of household income on rent and utilities. Paying 50% or more is often called severely burdened.
Last updated October 15, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.