Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance (2024)

Low income households struggle in many cities across the U.S. as home prices rise and housing inventory shrinks.

Low-income households are defined as those who make less than 80% of the local median income level. However, some low-income levels might be surprising. In San Francisco, for example, the low-income limit is registered as an annual salary of $105,350, the highest low-income limit in the U.S.

Now, Rent to Own Labs, a company that specializes in helping homebuyers find rent-to-own homes, conducted a study to see in which U.S. cities the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is meeting the most housing needs.

To determine the effectiveness of a specific city’s housing program, Rent To Own Labs examined the most recent PHA and American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau found from HUD.

Recently, HUD Secretary Ben Carson went on a listening tour to determine what programs are working well and which ones need to be cut or modified.

However, six months in, the department has yet to make any significant changes. Some members of Congress are even beginning to grow inpatient, calling for decisions on issues such as the indefinite suspension of the FHA mortgage insurance premium cut.

Rent To Own Labs’ report found even in the best city for low income housing, there aren’t enough public housing units to house even half of the city’s low-income population.

Here are the top 10 best cities for low income housing, and the percentage of low income households the HUD programs can provide for:

10. Pensacola, Florida – 31.5%

Total low income households: 9,665

Total public housing units: 3,048

9. West Palm Beach, Florida – 31.8%

Total low income households: 21,195

Total public housing units: 6,737

Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance (1)

8. Hoboken, New Jersey – 32.1%

Total low income households: 5,220

Total public housing units: 1,677

7. Albany, Oregon – 33.7%

Total low income households: 7,435

Total public housing units: 2,503

6. Spartanburg, South Carolina – 34.1%

Total low income households: 7,295

Total public housing units: 2,489

5. Cambridge, Massachusetts – 35.8%

Total low income households: 16,500

Total public housing units: 5,911

4. Monroe, Louisiana – 37.1%

Total low income households: 9,755

Total public housing units: 3,622

3. Boston, Massachusetts – 38.2%

Total low income households: 121,710

Total public housing units: 46,436

Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance (2)

2. Texarkana, Texas – 43.5%

Total low income households: 5,975

Total public housing units: 2,598

1. Charleston, West Virginia – 45.1%

Total low income households: 9,210

Total public housing units: 4,158

Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance (3)

Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance (2024)

FAQs

Top 10 cities where low-income housing sees best performance? ›

Key findings: Colorado ranked the top state in the nation for housing assistance from 2018 to 2019.

What state has the best low income apartments? ›

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. ...

What state has the best housing assistance? ›

Key findings: Colorado ranked the top state in the nation for housing assistance from 2018 to 2019.

What city has the most project housing? ›

But East Harlem isn't the only place in New York with an excess of public housing. Gotham has vastly more public housing units than any other city in the nation—nearly 200,000 of the national total of 1 million or so. (Chicago is a distant second, with 38,000 units.)

What state has the most subsidized housing? ›

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%. Among states only, Rhode Island has the highest rate of HUD residents at 5.62%.

What city has best low income housing? ›

Here are the top 10 best cities for low income housing, and the percentage of low income households the HUD programs can provide for:
  1. Charleston, West Virginia – 45.1%
  2. Texarkana, Texas – 43.5% ...
  3. Boston, Massachusetts – 38.2% ...
  4. Monroe, Louisiana – 37.1% ...
  5. Cambridge, Massachusetts – 35.8% ...
  6. Spartanburg, South Carolina – 34.1% ...
Jul 21, 2017

What city in the US has the most affordable housing? ›

#1 in Housing Affordability: Springfield, IL. #1 in Maintenance Affordability: Sunnyvale, CA. #1 in Rent-to-Price Ratio: Flint, MI. #1 in Vacancy Rate: Miami Beach, FL.

Where is the biggest housing shortage? ›

20 Cities With the Biggest Housing Shortage
  • Winter Haven, Florida. ...
  • San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas. ...
  • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas. ...
  • Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida. ...
  • Bend, Oregon. ...
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California. ...
  • Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas. ...
  • Merced, California.
Jun 14, 2023

What city has the most public housing units? ›

Of the five cities, New York had the most public housing units both in absolute number and as a share of housing units. Over five percent of the city's housing units in 2008 were in public housing—almost 180,000 units.

What state is the easiest to get welfare? ›

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.

What state is best for low income seniors? ›

Best States for Low Income Retirees FAQs

However, states like Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Wyoming are generally good options due to their affordability and quality of life for seniors.

Which states have housing shortage? ›

New York, New York and Los Angeles, California are short by 600,000-plus affordable rental units, followed by Miami, short by over 224,000 rental units. Chicago, Illinois, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Washington, DC follow, where the affordable housing shortage exceeds 150,000 rental units.

What state is the easiest to rent an apartment? ›

North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa are the best states for renters. California, Massachusetts and Nevada are the worst states for renters. Overall median rent ranges from $1,774 to $770 per month in Hawaii and West Virginia, respectively.

What state has the least amount of rent? ›

The ten states with the lowest average rent payments
  • West Virginia ($695)
  • South Dakota ($727)
  • Arkansas ($736)
  • Kentucky ($759)
  • Mississippi ($771)
  • Iowa ($786)
  • Alabama ($790)
  • Montana ($812)
Oct 11, 2022

What state has the least affordable housing? ›

Hawaii and California are the LEAST affordable places to live in the U.S as incomes fail to keep up with soaring property prices.

How much is low income housing in CA? ›

“Affordable housing cost” for lower-income households is defined in State law as not more than 30 percent of gross household income with variations (Health and Safety Code Section 50052.5). The comparable federal limit, more widely used, is 30 percent of gross income, with variations.

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