The Most Affordable ZIP Code for Renters by State

We were commissioned by CashNetUSA to identify the most affordable Zip codes to rent across America. To do this, we compared the average household incomes and annual rent costs in each ZIP code using U.S. Census data and Zillow’s Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Then, we ranked ZIP codes by affordability, the most affordable being the ZIP codes with the lowest rental costs as a percentage of local incomes. We considered figures below 30% of gross income as the standard affordable rent outlay defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Key Findings

• The average rent in Leawood 66224, Kansas, costs 10.57% of the local average income — the most affordable rent level of any U.S. ZIP code.
• Midland, Texas, has the highest proportion of affordable housing against local incomes, with 97.5% of rentals available below 30% of the local average income.
• Renters in Great Kills 10308 spend less of their earnings on housing than anywhere else in NYC, with the area's rent costing around 21% of the average income.
• Los Angeles doesn't have a single ZIP code where the average home is affordable to rent according to the 30% rule.