One map shows where US renters are feeling the most squeezed

Detailed summary

Rising housing costs are squeezing Americans. These charts show rent burdens and stalled earnings.

In more than half of US states, rent is gobbling up over a third of Americans' wallets — one of the mounting bills stretching household budgets thin. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit think tank, published The American Affordability Tracker in late October, a tool with data on Americans' finances and how they have changed in recent years. And for those Americans who don't own their homes, rent is one of the biggest stressors. In 31 states, average monthly rent took up more than 30% of Americans' average weekly earnings in August 2026.

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