State Health Compare

Millions of Americans struggle to pay rent as U.S. housing costs continue to rise. This cost burden limits the amount of money that individuals can spend on other necessities, such as groceries, transportation, and health care services. Unaffordable rent prices can also cause psychological and emotional distress in individuals who must seek more affordable alternative housing, whether by choice or due to eviction. Understanding which populations are at increased risk of experiencing unaffordable rent can improve efforts to assist renters in securing and maintaining housing.

State Health Compare provides state-level data on unaffordable rents based on findings from the American Community Survey (ACS). The data are available across the following breakdowns: disability status, household income, Medicaid enrollment, metropolitan status, and race (white or non-white).