Housing

California vs Texas: Rent to Income Ratio

Texas has a lower rent to income ratio than California.

California

CA · West

26.5%

Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

Texas

TX · South

Winner

22.1%

Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

Visual comparison

California26.5%

Texas22.1%

Difference: 4.40 percentage points — Texas leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

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

California #50 · 26.5%

Texas #45 · 22.1%

Best Worst

10 Best States — Rent to Income Ratio

Lower is better

North Dakota

15.2%

Iowa

15.5%

South Dakota

16.0%

Nebraska

16.5%

Minnesota

16.6%

Wisconsin

17.2%

Kansas

17.7%

Missouri

17.8%

Indiana

17.9%

#10

Wyoming

17.9%

Selected states

#50

California

26.5%

#45

Texas

22.1%

California ranks 50th and Texas ranks 45th 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.

MetricCaliforniaTexas

Median Gross Rent $1,856/mo $1,232/mo Median Household Income $84,097 $66,963

Income After Rent (mo.) $5,152/mo $4,348/mo

Median Home Value $693,700 $294,400 Cost of Living Index 138.5 94.3

What this means