Key takeaways
- More than 21 million renter households were cost-burdened in 2023.
- The ACS defines cost burden as more than 30 percent of income spent on housing costs.
- Local underwriting needs a local affordability review.
Source record
2 cited sources
Last verified
2026-08-09
In this article
Quick Overview
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that more than 21 million renter households spent over 30 percent of income on housing costs in 2023. That was 49.7 percent of the 42.5 million renter households for which the ratio was calculated. The median income-to-housing-cost ratio was 31 percent.
What the statistic measures
The measure comes from the 2023 American Community Survey. HUD's convention treats a household spending more than 30 percent of income on housing as cost-burdened. More than 50 percent is severe cost burden. The measure is a population estimate, not a delinquency forecast for a specific property.
Rental operations application
Use the rental vacancy rate context beside local asking-rent, wage, and renewal data. Keep application screening consistent and document exceptions in the application funnel audit. Do not infer ability to pay from a national percentage.
Common Mistakes
A national cost-burden rate is not a rent recommendation. It also does not say that every renter in a burdened household is late. Separate household affordability research from screening decisions and follow applicable fair-housing rules.
Common Questions Answered
Is 30 percent a legal limit?
No. It is a statistical convention used in housing research. Local law, program rules, and the operator's documented policy may differ.
Is this the same as rent alone?
No. The measure uses housing costs, and the Census report describes the renter housing-cost ratio rather than a property owner's rent roll.
Source and limits
The U.S. Census Bureau release on 2023 renter cost burden is the source for the counts and percentages. ACS estimates have sampling and measurement limits, and the result is dated to 2023.
Ready to apply the research?
Build a dated affordability note for each market before changing leasing assumptions.