Out of Reach 2003


Out of Reach 2003:
America's Housing Wage Climbs


How to Use the Numbers
Sample Data: Maricopa County, Arizona

Location Number of Households
Total Households Renter Households Renter Households as Percent 
of Total Households
Maricopa County * 1,132,886 368,339 33%
In 2000, there were 
1,132,886 households 
in Maricopa County,
Arizona.
In 2000, there were 
368,339 renter households 
in Maricopa County,
Arizona.
Renter households make 
up 33% of the total 
households.

2003 Family Income 
Location 2003 Estimated Annual 
Median Income (AMI)1  (HUD)
Maximum Affordable2 Monthly Housing Cost by % of Family AMI
Annual Monthly 30% of AMI 30% 50% 80% 100%
Maricopa County * $58,300 $4,858 $17,490 $437 $729 $1,166 $1,458
The median annual family income is $58,300. The median monthly family income is $4,858 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) is $17,490. For an extremely low income family, earning 30% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $437 or less is considered affordable. For a very low income family, earning 50% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $729 or less is considered affordable. For a moderately low income family, earning 80% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $1,166 or less is considered affordable. For a family earning 100% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $1,458 or less is considered affordable.

2004 Fair Market Rents (FMR)3 by Number of Bedrooms
Location Zero One Two Three Four
Maricopa County * $549 $664 $835 $1,161 $1,367
The Fair Market Rent for a 0 bedroom rental unit is $549.  The Fair Market Rent for a 1 bedroom rental unit is $664.  The Fair Market Rent for a 2 bedroom rental unit is $835.  The Fair Market Rent for a 3 bedroom rental unit is $1,161.  The Fair Market Rent for a 4 bedroom rental unit is $1,367. 

2003 Renter Households 
Location Renter Annual Income Income needed to afford 2BR FMR
as Percent of renter median
Percent of Renters Unable
to Afford 2BR FMR
Monthly Rent Affordable
at Renter Annual Income
Maricopa County * $34,101 98% 49% $853
The median renter income is $34,101.  A renter would have to earn at least 98% of the renter median income for a 2BR unit at FMR to be affordable.  49% of renters are unable to afford the FMR for a 2BR unit. A renter earning the median renter income can afford rent of no more than $853.

Income Needed to Afford FMR
Location Amount Percent of Family AMI
Zero 
Bedrooms
One 
Bedroom
Two 
Bedrooms
Three 
Bedrooms
Four 
Bedrooms
Zero 
Bedrooms
One 
Bedroom
Two 
Bedrooms
Three 
Bedrooms
Four 
Bedrooms
Maricopa County * $21,960 $26,560 $33,400 $46,440 $54,680 38% 46% 57% 80% 94%
For a 0 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $21,960. For a 1 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $26,560. For a 2 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $33,400. For a 3 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $46,440. For a 4 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $54,680. The income needed to afford a 0 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 38% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 1 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 46% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 2 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 57% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 3 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 80% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 4 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 94% of the AMI.

 Location  Housing Wage 
Hourly Wage Needed to Afford 
(@ 40 hrs./wk.)
Percent Change 
in 2BR 
Housing Wage 
(2002-2003)
As % of Minimum Wage 
(Arizona=$5.15)
Zero 
Bedroom 
FMR 
One 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Two 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Three 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Four 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Zero 
Bedroom 
FMR 
One 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Two 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Three 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Four 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Maricopa County * $10.56 $12.77 $16.06 $22.33 $26.29 3.60% 205% 248% 312% 434% 510%
A renter household would need to earn $10.56 per hour for a 0 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $12.77 per hour for a 1 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $16.06 per hour for a 2 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $22.33 per hour for a 2 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $26.29 per hour for a 3 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. Between 2001 and 2002, the amount a renter would have to earn in order to afford a 2 bedroom unit increased by 3.60%. The housing wage for a 0 bedroom unit represents 205% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 1 bedroom unit represents 248% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 2 bedroom unit represents 312% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 3 bedroom unit represents 434% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 4 bedroom unit represents 510% of the minimum wage.

Location  Work Hours/Week 
Necessary at Minimum 
Wage to Afford 
(Arizona=$5.15)
Zero 
Bedroom 
FMR 
One 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Two 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Three 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Four 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Maricopa County * 82 99 125 173 204
A renter earning the minimum wage must work 82 hours per week to afford a 0 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 99 hours per week to afford a 1 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 125 hours per week to afford a 2 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 173 hours per week to afford a 3 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 204 hours per week to afford a 4 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent.

C H A R T   F O O T N O T E S
1. HUD, 2003.
2. "Affordable" rents represent the generally accepted standard of spending not more than 30% of income on housing costs.
3. HUD, 2004, proposed.
4. Annual income of 30% of AMI or less is the federal standard for extremely low income households. Does not include HUD-specific adjustments.

D A T A   F O O T N O T E S 
Arizona:  FMRs for jurisdictions labeled with an asterisk (*) have FMRs calculated at the 50th percentile. See Appendix A for explanation.


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