Out of 100 metro areas, San Diego County has the 10th most cost-burdened renters, says a new study from real estate website Abodo.

Fifty-seven percent of county renters spent more than 30 percent of their income on rent in 2015, the latest U.S Census data shows, which is considered “cost burdened” by economists and federal agencies.

Renters in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and other major cities are spending less of their income on rent. In general, California had some of the highest burden levels.

“Outside of San Diego, when looking at the data on a statewide level, the study revealed that almost half of the top 20 cities with the most cost burdened renters are located in California,” Abodo spokesman Sam Radbil said.


Places with more cost-burdened renters than San Diego: Riverside County (58.8 percent), Los Angeles County (58.5 percent), Fresno County (57.7 percent), Ventura County (57.5 percent) and Stockton (56.8 percent).

The most cost-burdened renters are in Miami where 63.8 percent of renters are paying more than a third of their income on rent.

Economists and government housing legislation recommend people do not spend more than 30 percent of income on rent because it makes it harder to pay for food, utilities and other necessities.

The best places to save a buck? Only 39 percent are cost-burdened in Fayetteville, Ark., 42 percent in Kansas City, MO., and 44 percent in Wichita, Kan., Abodo said.


The housing crunch is worst at the bottom, where finding a cheaper place gets extremely difficult.

San Diegans who made under $20,000 a year in 2015 had a 92 percent chance of spending a third of their income on rent, Census data shows; $20,000 to $34,999, 94 percent; $35,000 to $49,999, 75 percent; $50,000 to $74,999, 47 percent; $75,000 and more, 13 percent.

The median household income in San Diego County in 2015 was $67,320.

There were fewer cost-burdened renters in the county last year, about 55 percent, said Census data.


Average rent had increased 8.9 percent in a year, as of September, said MarketPointe Realty Advisors. The average rent was $1,743.

The price increases have led to intense competition for cheaper units with studios commanding about $2.60 a square foot at the end of the first six months of 2016, according to CoStar. One-bedrooms cost $2.15 per square foot and two-bedrooms ran $1.85 square-foot.


phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar

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