Top 10 best states for low-income housing, 2017 (2024)

Efficientgov included cost of living data in determining the top 10 best states for low-income housing. HUD reports a wage-rent gap affecting more than 12 million

As the wage-rent gap continues to widen, low-income housing growth remains stagnant. While most experts agree that a household should not spend more than 30 percent of their household income on rent, Department of Housing and Urban (HUD) reports that about 12 million households currently pay more than 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing.

Who is eligible for low-income housing?

To determine who is eligible for affordable housing, HUD focuses on median wages reflective of the region. By looking at data points outside of specific metros, we are able to factor in families searching for housing beyond the city itself to find a place to live. HUD determines three levels of low-income housing eligibility based on household size and percent difference from the area median income (AMI). The three brackets are:

Top 10 best states for low-income housing, 2017 (1)

  • Extremely low-income (0-30 percent of AMI)
  • Very low-income (30-50 percent of AMI)
  • Low-income (50-80 percent of AMI)

By law, a public housing agency (PHA) must provide 75 percent of its vouchers to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income.

Which states have more low-income housing?

Efficientgov used HUD Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program data to find out which states or territories have the most low-income housing opportunities.

Not only did we take into consideration the number of complexes per capita, we also considered factors that could hinder one’s ability to afford their home, like cost of living and unemployment rate.

By using a weighted calculation system we were able to determine the top ten best states for low-income housing in 2017. The full methodology -- and our interactive heat map -- provides information for the entire United States.

The Top Ten Best States for Low-Income Housing in 2017:

10. Kansas

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 6
  • National cost of living index rank: 9
  • Unemployment rate: 6

To qualify for low-income housing in Kansas, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $38,350. The median family wage in Kansas is $74,900.

9. Minnesota

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2
  • National cost of living index rank: 29
  • Unemployment rate: 3

To qualify for low-income housing in Minnesota, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $45,000. The median family wage in Minnesota is $91,600.

8. Missouri

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 3
  • National cost of living index rank: 4
  • Unemployment rate: 5

To qualify for low-income housing in Missouri, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $45,000. The median family wage in Missouri is $81,700.

7. New Hampshire

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2
  • National cost of living index rank: 39
  • Unemployment rate: 7

To qualify for low-income housing in New Hampshire, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $46,550. The median family wage in New Hampshire is $73,300.

6. Iowa

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 6
  • National cost of living index rank: 6
  • Unemployment rate: 3

To qualify for low-income housing in Iowa, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $39,150. The median family wage in Iowa is $53,200.

5. Vermont

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 8
  • National cost of living index rank: 40
  • Unemployment rate: 9

To qualify for low-income housing in Vermont, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $38,800. The median family wage in Vermont is $110,300.

4. North Dakota

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 16
  • National cost of living index rank: 30
  • Unemployment rate: 5

To qualify for low-income housing in North Dakota, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $44,150. The median family wage in North Dakota is $84,900.

3. Nebraska

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 5
  • National cost of living index rank: 13
  • Unemployment rate: 7

To qualify for low-income housing in Nebraska, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $38,200. The median family wage in Nebraska is $61,600.

2. South Dakota

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 4
  • National cost of living index rank: 22
  • Unemployment rate: 5

To qualify for low-income housing in South Dakota, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $37,650. The median family wage in South Dakota is $55,500.

1. Arkansas

  • Affordable housing complexes per capita: 8
  • National cost of living index rank: 2
  • Unemployment rate: 6

To qualify for low-income housing in Arkansas, a one-person household must fall under the statewide income limit of $29,800. The median family wage in Arkansas is $77,800.

How is this list different from our list in 2016?

Last year, Efficientgov ‘s top 10 best states for affordable housing did not include the cost of living data. Because cost of living is a factor in how salaries at the low-income level, per city or state, are pressured we have included it in this year’s analysis. Additionally, we added clearer visibility to the median income in each state.

About the author

Andrea Fox is Editor of Gov1.com and Senior Editor at Lexipol. She is based in Massachusetts.

Top 10 best states for low-income housing, 2017 (2024)

FAQs

Which state has the best low income housing? ›

These Are the 10 Best States for Housing Affordability:
  • Mississippi.
  • West Virginia.
  • Arkansas.
  • Alabama.
  • Kentucky.
  • Oklahoma.
  • South Dakota.
  • Iowa.
May 2, 2023

What state is the easiest to get low income housing? ›

The Top Ten Best States for Low-Income Housing in 2017:
  • Nebraska.
  • North Dakota. ...
  • Vermont. ...
  • Iowa. ...
  • New Hampshire. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2. ...
  • Missouri. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 3. ...
  • Minnesota. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 2. ...
  • Kansas. Affordable housing complexes per capita: 6. ...

Which states have the least affordable housing? ›

The most expensive state to move to in 2023 is Hawai'i, with an average home price of $636,400. Following up is Washington DC, with an average house price of $618,100. In third place is California, with an average house price of $538,000. That's an extreme difference between Arkansas and California.

What is the largest low income housing government program in the United States? ›

Tenant-based rental assistance programs. Federal tenant-based rental assistance is provided primarily through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher. It is the largest and most sought after housing program in America.

What state helps poor people the most? ›

Based on SNAP, the states with the highest number of welfare recipients are California with 1,911,000 SNAP households, followed by Florida with 1,632,000, and Texas with 1,595,000. New York and Pennsylvania complete the top five, with 1,520,000 and 946,000 households benefiting from SNAP, respectively.

What is the easiest state to live in financially? ›

Take a look at the 10 cheapest states to live in for 2022.
  1. Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. ...
  2. Kansas. ...
  3. Alabama. ...
  4. Oklahoma. ...
  5. Georgia. ...
  6. Tennessee. ...
  7. Missouri. ...
  8. Iowa.
Mar 31, 2023

Where can I live for $500 a month in the US? ›

Without further ado – and in no particular order – here's what $500 per month can get you in ten affordable U.S. cities:
  • Greenville, OH. Listing: Wayne Crossing. ...
  • Wichita, KS. Listing: Eagle Creek. ...
  • Lawton, OK. Listing: Sheridan Square Apartments. ...
  • Amarillo, TX. ...
  • Indianapolis, IN. ...
  • Searcy, AR. ...
  • Shreveport, LA. ...
  • Jackson, MS.
Oct 9, 2020

Where do most low income families live? ›

In the South and West, children in low-income families are more concentrated in rural areas, but they are more likely to live in urban areas in the Midwest and Northeast. Poverty is growing in suburban areas,3 although they are substantially less likely to be home to the chil- dren of low-income families.

What state is the easiest to get welfare? ›

The Top Ten States for Low-Income Individuals & Families
  • Vermont. ...
  • Rhode Island. ...
  • New York. ...
  • Michigan. ...
  • Illinois. ...
  • Massachusetts. ...
  • Minnesota. ...
  • Nevada.

What state has the worst housing shortage? ›

Story at a glance

California currently has the largest deficit of homes at 980,000.

What states have a housing shortage? ›

Chicago, Illinois, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Washington, DC follow, where the affordable housing shortage exceeds 150,000 rental units. The gap between affordable housing supply and demand is slimmer in Louisville, Kentucky, short by 15,300 rental units, and Buffalo, New York, short by 17,300 units.

Which U.S. city is the No 1 most affordable housing market? ›

Most Affordable Cities for Home Buyers
Overall Rank*CityTotal Score
1Montgomery, AL71.37
2Flint, MI71.35
3Toledo, OH70.97
4Detroit, MI70.91
26 more rows
May 23, 2023

What city has the most government housing? ›

New York City Housing Authority — 180,263 units- If you are interested in applying for housing programs, applying to work here or doing business click here- The New York Housing Authority is like no other PHA in the USA.

Who has the largest Section 8 housing in the US? ›

New York Housing Authority: 90,000 Vouchers: NYCHA administers the largest Section 8 program in the country. Approximately 90,000 Section 8 vouchers and over 29,000 owners currently participate in the program.

Where is the most public housing located? ›

Where is public housing located? PHAs in the Northeast and South have been most aggressive in developing public housing. These two regions account for 73 percent of all occupied public housing units but only 54 percent of all renters. Public housing is also much more prevalent in central cities than in suburbs.

Which US state has the best welfare system? ›

Vermont ranks as the most generous state with the average low-income person receiving about $26,000 in benefits. This is due largely to the fact that, using my measure, Vermont has the most generous Medicaid program and Medicaid accounts for about half of all of the programs I consider.

Which US state has the best welfare? ›

New York

Coming in first spot is New York with the Empire State spending roughly 4,094 dollars on local welfare spending per capita.

What state has the most people on assistance? ›

The states with the highest SNAP participation rates as of November 2022 are: New Mexico (24.3%) Louisiana (19.5%) West Virginia (18.2%)

What state has the best quality of life to live? ›

Washington state has the highest quality of life in all 50 states. The state has no income tax, a thriving job market, and great international business opportunities.

What is the best state to live over 50? ›

The best states to retire, based on what people really want
RankStateQuality of life
1Vermont84
2Maine92
3New Hampshire71
4Kentucky70
6 more rows

Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in USA? ›

In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.

Where can I live on $1,500 a month in the US? ›

Here's the list of the 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Florida, To see how you can live for $1,500 month, find the full list below.
  • Best Cities to Live on $1,500 or Less a Month (via Mind Your Dollars):
  • Davenport, Iowa. ...
  • Lawton, Oklahoma. ...
  • Tallahassee, Florida. ...
  • El Paso, Texas. ...
  • Lansing, Michigan. ...
  • Fort Wayne, Indiana. ...
  • Odessa, Texas.
Feb 21, 2022

Where can I live for $1000 a month in the US? ›

  • New Bern, N.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Rock Hill, S.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Tallahassee, Fla. Median rent price: $990. ...
  • Beaumont, Texas. Median rent price: $997.50. ...
  • Winston-Salem, N.C. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Shreveport, La. Median rent price: $950. ...
  • Las Cruces, N.M. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Champaign, Ill.
Jul 22, 2016

Where is the cheapest rent in United States? ›

The best cities for affordable rent, summed up
RankCityCost of living (U.S. average=100)
1Little Rock, AR87.70
2Tulsa, OK88.60
3Omaha, NE91.70
4Des Moines, IA92.30
21 more rows
Dec 30, 2022

Where do most poor live? ›

According to World Bank, the countries with the highest poverty rates in the world are:
  • South Sudan - 82.30%
  • Equatorial Guinea - 76.80%
  • Madagascar - 70.70%
  • Guinea-Bissau - 69.30%
  • Eritrea - 69.00%
  • Sao Tome and Principe - 66.70%
  • Burundi - 64.90%
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo - 63.90%

What state has the lowest poverty rate? ›

  • New Hampshire. #1 in Low Poverty Rate. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Utah. #2 in Low Poverty Rate. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Minnesota. #3 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
  • Colorado. #4 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
  • Washington. #5 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
  • Connecticut. #6 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
  • Virginia. #7 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
  • New Jersey. #8 in Low Poverty Rate.

Where do the majority of poor people live? ›

The majority of the poorest now live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where weaker economic growth and high population growth in many countries has led to a rising number of people living in extreme poverty.

What state offers the best benefits? ›

Hawaii's unemployment insurance system was the most generous in the country. Unemployed workers received an average benefit of nearly $423, or 52.5% of the average weekly wage, as of the third quarter of 2013 — both more than any other state. By either measure this was more than any other state.

What are the hardest states to qualify for Medicaid? ›

The 10 most deficient state programs have overall scores ranging from between 317.8 and 379.1 of the total 1000 points. The worst, in order from 50th to 41st, are in Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri.

What state has the most Section 8 housing? ›

Mississippi has the largest HUD households with an average 2.4 residents per housing unit. New Hampshire has the smallest households with an average 1.7 residents. Utah has the smallest number of HUD residents per capita at 1.12%. The District of Columbia has the highest number of HUD residents per capita at 7.76%.

What state has the biggest housing crisis? ›

California's chronic shortage of housing manifests itself in sky-high housing costs, the nation's worst poverty and its highest level of homelessness.

Which 3 US states have the most vulnerable housing markets by far? ›

New Jersey, Illinois and California lead the nation with markets where properties are vulnerable amid a housing downturn and possible upcoming recession, according to a new report from real estate analytics company Attom.

What are the 3 states most at risk of a housing downturn? ›

California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Delaware are home to the most at-risk housing markets, according to a Special Housing Risk report released by real estate data firm ATTOM. “Some parts of the country remain considerably more exposed to housing market declines than others,” says Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM.

How bad is the US housing shortage? ›

According to a report from the National Multifamily Housing Council, the U.S. will be 4.3 million apartments short of meeting the demand for housing by 2035.

Is the US still in a housing crisis? ›

Studies have shown that for the past 40 years, housing supply has not kept pace with demand, resulting in a housing shortage ranging between 2 million and 6 million homes. Yet across America, a combination of recalcitrant homeowners and outdated zoning laws routinely block attempts to build more housing.

When was the last housing crisis in the United States? ›

The United States subprime mortgage crisis was a multinational financial crisis that occurred between 2007 and 2010 that contributed to the 2007–2008 global financial crisis. The crisis led to a severe economic recession, with millions of people losing their jobs and many businesses going bankrupt.

What major city has the cheapest cost of living? ›

Most Affordable Major Cities in the U.S.
  • Salt Lake City, Utah. Cost of living: 6% below U.S. average Median home price: $320,281. ...
  • South Bend, Indiana. Cost of living: 8% below U.S. average Median home price: $314,035. ...
  • Richmond, Virginia. ...
  • Boise, Idaho. ...
  • Birmingham, Alabama. ...
  • Lawton, Oklahoma. ...
  • Montgomery, Alabama. ...
  • Des Moines, Iowa.
May 21, 2021

What big city has the lowest cost of living? ›

An curved arrow pointing right. It can be extremely expensive to live in big cities like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. However, living in places, like Fort Wayne, Indiana, or Brownsville, Texas, can be more affordable. Fort Wayne, Indiana, was named the city with the lowest cost of living for 2022.

Where is the best housing in America? ›

Green Bay, Wisconsin. Among northern U.S. metro areas that offer a low cost of living, Green Bay might be the best option for you, as it's the No. 1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024. Green Bay residents spend just 19.92% of the area's median household income on housing costs.

What state has the most affordable housing right now? ›

Cheapest States To Buy A House
RankStateQ4 2021 All-Transactions House Price Index
1Tennessee310.42
2Illinois280.26
3Oklahoma407.56
4Ohio543.83
16 more rows
May 1, 2023

Who owns the most housing in the US? ›

Leading apartment owners in the U.S. 2022, by units owned

Starwood Capital Group, which was the largest owner in 2022 with 115,000 units, is a private investment firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.

What is the largest housing project in America? ›

Owned by the New York City Housing Authority, the development contains 29 buildings and 3,142 units accommodating approximately 7,000 people in two separate complexes (North and South). The complex opened in 1939 and is the largest housing project in North America.

Can I move anywhere in US with Section 8? ›

Households that receive help with their rent through the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program can move with their rental assistance to any rental unit anywhere in the United States.

How many Americans live in low income housing? ›

Approximately 4.8 million households in the United States receive housing assistance through programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Where is the best place to live on Section 8? ›

Here are the top 10 best cities for low income housing, and the percentage of low income households the HUD programs can provide for:
  • Cambridge, Massachusetts – 35.8%
  • Spartanburg, South Carolina – 34.1% ...
  • Albany, Oregon – 33.7% ...
  • Hoboken, New Jersey – 32.1% ...
  • West Palm Beach, Florida – 31.8% ...
  • Pensacola, Florida – 31.5% ...
Jul 21, 2017

What is the most common housing in the US? ›

1. Single-Family Homes. Single-family homes are freestanding residential buildings.

What is the most popular type of housing? ›

Single-Family (Detached)

The majority of homes in the U.S. are single-family homes. They're less common in highly populated areas and are typically found in suburbs. Single-family homes are usually more private and offer more options for personalization (barring any homeowners association (HOA) requirements).

Which US city is the No 1 most affordable housing market? ›

Most Affordable Cities for Home Buyers
Overall Rank*CityTotal Score
1Montgomery, AL71.37
2Flint, MI71.35
3Toledo, OH70.97
4Detroit, MI70.91
26 more rows
May 23, 2023

Where do most low-income families live? ›

In the South and West, children in low-income families are more concentrated in rural areas, but they are more likely to live in urban areas in the Midwest and Northeast. Poverty is growing in suburban areas,3 although they are substantially less likely to be home to the chil- dren of low-income families.

What state is the easiest to get food stamps? ›

The states with the highest SNAP participation rates as of November 2022 are:
  • New Mexico (24.3%)
  • Louisiana (19.5%)
  • West Virginia (18.2%)
  • Oklahoma (17.2%)
  • Oregon (17.0%)
  • Illinois (16.2%)
  • Alabama (15.4%)
  • Massachusetts (15.2%)
Mar 16, 2023

What state gives the most benefits? ›

Kansas ranks first on our list with 26 weeks of benefits and an average weekly payment of $375. We examined each state's benefits, excluding federal programs that were added on to state benefits due to the pandemic's impact on the economy.

What city has the lowest cost of living? ›

In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.

What state has the worst poverty? ›

These states and territories have the highest percentages of poverty in the country: Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

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