Rent to Income Ratio Comparison
Housing

Alaska vs California: Rent to Income Ratio

Alaska has a lower rent to income ratio than California.

Alaska flag
Alaska
AK • West
Winner
18.7%
Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.
California flag
California
CA • West
26.5%
Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

Visual Comparison

Alaska 18.7%
California 26.5%

Difference: 7.80 percentage points — Alaska leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for rent to income ratio.

Alaska #19 · 18.7%
California #50 · 26.5%
Best Worst

10 Best States — Rent to Income Ratio

Lower is better
#1 North Dakota flag North Dakota
15.2%
#2 Iowa flag Iowa
15.5%
#3 South Dakota flag South Dakota
16.0%
#4 Nebraska flag Nebraska
16.5%
#5 Minnesota flag Minnesota
16.6%
#6 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
17.2%
#7 Kansas flag Kansas
17.7%
#8 Missouri flag Missouri
17.8%
#9 Indiana flag Indiana
17.9%
#10 Wyoming flag Wyoming
17.9%
Selected states
#19 Alaska flag Alaska
18.7%
#50 California flag California
26.5%

Alaska ranks 19th and California ranks 50th nationally for rent to income ratio.

Related Context

Rent Burden in Context

This ratio shows how much of a median paycheck goes straight to the landlord — the higher, the less breathing room renters have.

What This Means

Alaska vs California: Rent to Income Ratio in context

Alaska has a rent to income ratio of 18.7%, compared with 26.5% in California. Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

Alaska
18.7%
California
26.5%
Difference
7.80 percentage points

People Also Ask

Alaska vs California Rent to Income Ratio — Common Questions

Q What is Alaska's rent to income ratio?

Alaska's rent to income ratio is 18.7%.

Q What is California's rent to income ratio?

California's rent to income ratio is 26.5%.

Q Which state has a lower rent to income ratio — Alaska or California?

Alaska has a lower rent to income ratio than California.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.