More than half of San Antonio-area renters are “cost-burdened” by how much of their monthly paycheck goes to keeping their lights on and a roof over their head, according to a
from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Indeed, 52.7% of renter households in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro fall into the cost-burdened category, meaning 30% or more of their income covers rent and utilities, the analysis shows. What’s more, 27% are considered severely cost-burdened, signifying that those costs account for half or more of their pay.
A larger share of San Antonio-area renters face that situation than those in the Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metros, according to the report. Statewide, 51% of renters are considered cost-burdened.
“If you’re spending more than 30% of your income on rent, you don’t have enough money for other essentials, Ben Martin, research director for housing research group Texas Housers
of the study. “This forces families to make tragic decisions about trade-offs. Are they going to pay rent, or are they going to pay for food and clothes for their children or gas or other things you need to work a job and live a life with your family?”