Most rent is affordable for most people in Nashville. In fact, for the median income household in Nashville, rent is a bargain.

While there are people in Nashville who are "house-cost-burdened," most people are not. Most rent is affordable for most people in Nashville. In fact, for the median income household in Nashville, rent is a bargain.

• The actual median household income in Nashville is $54,549. To rent a median-priced 2-bedroom in Nashville, one will need an annual income of 45,240 to avoid becoming cost-burdened.

This means that if there is a couple, where one member earns $12 an hour or $24,960 a year, and the other member of the couple ears $9.75 an hour or $20,280 a year, they can afford the median-priced rental unit. Not everyone, of course can afford the median-priced unit; some can afford less and some can afford more. 

Of the 50 cities with the highest median-priced rents, Nashville comes in at number 49. There are cities where the median income household cannot afford thee median priced rental unit. Nashville is not one of them.  Here are some example where the median household can not afford the median priced rent and the income gap to afford it.

While we hear a lot about the problem of housing affordability in Nashville, we are better off than most of the country.  It is good to have a little perspective. Nashville should be doing things to make housing more affordable for the poor.  One thing Nashville should do is abandon policies that destroys affordable housing and policies that drive up prices and be more accommodating to developers who want to build affordable housing.

For more data, follow this link.


 

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