Hourly wage required to rent a two bedroom unit by state

[left-of-center2012]

How Much do you Need to Earn to Afford a Modest Apartment in Your State?
http://nlihc.org/oor

Housing is Out of Reach
Millions of Americans struggle to find affordable rents.

In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment in the U.S., renters need to earn a wage of $20.30 per hour.
In six states and the District of Columbia they need to earn more than $25 per hour.
The Housing Wage for a two-bedroom unit is $13.05 higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25,
and $4.88 higher than the estimated average wage of $15.42 earned by renters nationwide.

[KamaAina]

1. Meanwhile, my Ivy League-educated self pulls down $19 and change

in the Bay Area!

The only good thing about being single is that I can inhabit a one-bedroom.

[Bonx]

3. My public college educated self pulls down well over twice that

in an affordable area.
And the mortgage on our 4000 sq foot house is probably cheaper than your rent.

[PasadenaTrudy]

5. Why on earth

would you need such a big house?

[Bonx]

6. I don't 'need' it, wanted it.

It's a good fit for hosting guests, family events, & too many hobbies.

[whatthehey]

2. Fine print: This is a 40th percentile 2BR for 30% of income at minimum wage.

In other words 4 out of every 10 two bedroom rentals can be had for less, and it only assumes paying 30% of income.

Since < 4% of the population makes minimum wage, how realistic is it that one of them should be living in a 40th percentile home with 2 bedrooms? If the bottom 4% of income should be looking at a 40th percentile home, who the hell is expected to rent the lower cost 39.9999%? Especially when in several states my 15yr mortgage for a reasonably nice middle class 3BR house is less than this 40th percentile "fair market rent".

[UMTerp01]

4. I live in MD. Housing is so expensive

Maryland never really suffered from the housing bubble bursting. We are near DC where there are a lot of secure gov't jobs. We also have some of the richest counties in the country in the DC/MD/VA area. Arlington Co, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince Georges County. Housing went down a little but never really imploded. Housing is so expensive here. Rents are high as well as buying a home. The closer you are to DC the higher the housing costs so its no surprise to see MD in dark blue. What I paid for my house I could have a damn mansion in the south.

[annabanana]

7. Pretty broad brush...

In NY for example..

A two bedroom appt upstate is nowhere NEAR a two bedroom on say, Long Island. . .

[thesquanderer]

8. OTOH, a household that needs two bedrooms is likely to have two potential wage-earners,

so these figures are what the two people combined would have to earn.

Honestly, if I was earning minimum wage, I'd be content with a studio apt. I don't think "minimum" wage necessarily needs to be able to buy "ideal." You have to start somewhere, and studio apts exist for a reason.