In June 2015, the D.C. Office of Revenue Analysis reported the most common reasons why people leave Washington, D.C. Topping the list was housing, which shouldn’t be surprising as the city currently ranks as the fifth most expensive U.S. city for renting in. Despite this, ABODO reports that renters in the nation’s capital are some of the most satisfied in the country.

In their report, ABODO ranked renters in the D.C. metro area as the third most satisfied, just under renters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Kansas City, Missouri.

On the methodology behind the report, ABODO writes:

“For neighborhood satisfaction, we drew from the U.S. Census’ American Housing Survey of 25 metro areas and considered renters’ own opinions on their area’s crime, schools, public transportation, and litter, as well as their overall rating of their neighborhood. For their own rented units, whether they’re apartments or single-family homes, we considered issues ranging from rodents and roaches, to heating issues, mold, water leaks, and more significant structural problems, like missing walls and holes in the roof.”

There were a total of 18 factors considered in their report, ranging from the percentage of housing reporting signs of cockroaches, rats, or mice as well as buildings within a half a block with bars on the windows. For a full look at the factors, go to ABODO’s website here.

So, what makes this report so confusing? Well, according to Apartment List, 48.4 percent of renters in D.C. are cost-burdened, meaning that they spend more than a third of their income on rent. 26.7 percent of those renters are “severely cost-burdened,” which means they spend more than half of their income on rent. How is that satisfying?

It’s hardest for large families in the District. In August 2017, the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), which oversees the Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program, released a report that explained that the majority of the IZ units that have been created since 2009 have served couples or single people rather than large families. 41 percent of the IZ units have been registered to single-member households, while 29 percent have been registered to couples.

What do you think, Curbed DC readers? Does ABODO’s report seem legitimate? Or is it maybe too generous?

• The Nation’s Most Satisfied Renters are in Raleigh, NC [ABODO]

• Rental Affordability Crisis: Where Is Cost Burden Worst? [Apartment List]

• Housing Is the Number One Reason Why People Leave D.C. [Curbed DC]

• D.C.’s typical one-bedroom apartment costs $2,241 per month [Curbed DC]

• The majority of D.C.’s affordable housing has benefited single people and couples, not large families [Curbed DC]