What’s left after housing costs for a family of four?
A family that earns an annual income of $50,000, as featured in this chart, spends 35% of their monthly income on housing and only has a remaining $41 per month. That is a very tight budget. This family, like 50% of Colorado renters, spends more than 30% on housing, which disrupts essential living expenses like healthcare and depresses their ability to invest in Colorado businesses, restaurants and retail.
1 in 4 Colorado renters spend more than 50% of their household income on housing.
1 in 3 Colorado children are living in households with a high housing cost burden that puts their other needs at risk.
A minimum wage worker needs to clock in over 95 hours/week to afford a simple two-bedroom apartment.
Better for Colorado
Offering a variety of housing choices that are reasonably priced is essential to Colorado’s economic development and ensuring that local communities have sustainable economic vibrancy. It’s also imperative to positioning our state as an attractive place to relocate or grow a business.
Better for Business
Colorado cost-burdened households, earning less than $50,000 annually, account for $2 billion less spending each year on consumer goods. This dampens local business, stalls economic potential and compromises state and local governments who rely heavily on sales tax revenue.
We’re opening the door to more housing that makes sense.
Share your knowledge with the community
to show how affordable housing and housing diversity choice benefits communities.