Out of Reach 2005
America's Housing Wage Climbs


How to Use the Numbers
Sample Data: Anycounty, Anystate

Location Number of Households
Total Households Renter Households Renter Households as Percent 
of Total Households
Anycounty  1,132,886 368,339 33%
In 2000, there were 
1,132,886 households 
in Anycounty,
Arizona.
In 2000, there were 
368,339 renter households 
in Anycounty,
Arizona.
Renter households make 
up 33% of the total 
households.
 
2004 Family Income 
Location 2004 Annual
Median Income (AMI)1  (HUD)
Maximum Affordable2 Monthly Housing Cost by % of Family AMI
Annual Monthly 30% of AMI 30% 50% 80% 100%
Anycounty  $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.
 
2005 Fair Market Rents (FMR)3 by Number of Bedrooms
Location Zero One Two Three Four
Anycounty  $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. 
 
2004 Renter Households 
Location Estimated Renter Median Annual Income Income Needed to Afford 2BR FMR as Percent of Renter Median Number Earning 30% of AMI or Less Unable to Afford Rent (2000)
Number Earning 30-50% of AMI Unable to Afford Rent (2000)
Monthly
Rent Affordable at Renter Median
Anycounty  $34,101 98% 49,510 43,403 $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.  49,510 renter households with incomes of 30% or less of the area median income are unable to afford housing 43,403 renter households with incomes between 30-50%%  of the area median income are unable to afford housing A renter earning the median renter income can afford rent of no more than $853.
 
Income Needed to Afford FMR
Location Annual 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
Anycounty  $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.)
As % of Minimum Wage 
(Anystate=$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 
Anycounty  $10.56 $12.77 $16.06 $22.33 $26.29 205% 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. 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 
(Anystate=$5.15)
Zero 
Bedroom 
FMR 
One 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Two 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Three 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Four 
Bedroom 
FMR 
Anycounty  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, 2004.
2. "Affordable" rents represent the generally accepted standard of spending not more than 30% of income on housing costs.
3. HUD, 2005.
4. Annual income of 30% of AMI or less is the federal standard for extremely low income households. Does not include HUD-specific adjustments.


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