10 Least Affordable Places to Rent

In most of the country, you can afford a median-priced home if you make the median household income in that area. That is completely untrue in San Francisco. Just meeting the mortgage payments on a median-priced home in San Francisco County (assuming a 10% down payment), would take 101% of the median household income. Yep: 101% of $75,604 just to cover the mortgage payments, according to a rental property analysis by RealtyTrac.

Renting is a much better option in that area, but it’s still going to require a large chunk of your income. That’s the case in several large cities, particularly coastal ones. RealtyTrac analyzed home price data, fair-market rental prices for three-bedroom properties (as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and median incomes reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the 461 most populous counties in the country. Here are the least affordable counties for renters, based on that data.

Hernando County, Florida
Metropolitan Statistical Area: Tampa
2015 percent of median income needed to rent a 3-bedroom property: 42%
Percent of median income needed to own a median-priced home: 17%
Median household income: $41,024
Feb. 2015 unemployment rate (most recent available): 7.2%

St. Louis County, Missouri
Metro area: St. Louis
Percent of median income needed to rent: 42%
Percent of median income needed to own: 28%
Median household income: $58,910
Unemployment rate: 5.7%

Los Angeles County, California
Metro area: Los Angeles
Percent of median income needed to rent: 42%
Percent of median income needed to own: 61%
Median household income: $55,909
Unemployment rate: 7.7%

Broward County, Florida
Metro area: Miami
Percent of median income needed to rent: 43%
Percent of median income needed to own: 23%
Median household income: $51,251
Unemployment rate: 5.2%

San Francisco County, California
Metro area: San Francisco
Percent of median income needed to rent: 44%
Percent of median income needed to own: 101%
Median household income: $75,604
Unemployment rate: 3.8%

Miami-Dade County, Florida
Metro area: Miami
Percent of median income needed to rent: 45%
Percent of median income needed to own: 34%
Median household income: $43,100
Unemployment rate: 5.4%

Kings County, New York
Metro area: New York
Percent of median income needed to rent: 48%
Percent of median income needed to own: 96%
Median household income: $46,085
Unemployment rate: 7.4%

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Metro area: Philadelphia
Percent of median income needed to rent: 48%
Percent of median income needed to own: 19%
Median household income: $37,192
Unemployment rate: 7.3%

Baltimore City, Maryland
Metro area: Baltimore
Percent of median income needed to rent: 49%
Percent of median income needed to own: 14%
Median household income: $41,385
Unemployment rate: 8.4%

Bronx County, New York
Metro area: New York
Percent of median income needed to rent: 69%
Percent of median income needed to own: 80%
Median household income: $34,388
Unemployment rate: 9.8%

High rent is a byproduct of a high-demand market, and it’s sometimes cheaper to live in a suburban area of such markets. Still, rent is only one aspect of living expenses, so when you’re researching where to live, factor in things like transportation, food costs and your commute. Whether you decide to buy or rent, make sure you check your credit first — property managers are often more willing to rent to applicants with good credit, and good credit can make it easier and cheaper to set up utility services, as well. You can get your credit scores for free every month on Credit.com to see where you stand.