Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresnans Among Nation's Most Rent Burdened: Study
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 8 months ago on
September 19, 2024

More than a third of Fresno renters spend at least half of their income on rent. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Only one California city made the list of the top five most rent-burdened cities. The rest all belonged to Florida.

Census data shows 34% of Fresno renters spent more than half of their income on rent in 2023, the fourth-highest rate of cities with more than 200,000 households in the nation, according to news website Axios. Nationally, 25.6% of renters spend more than half their income on housing.

The only cities to beat Fresno? Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, and Palm Bay, all in Florida. Miami secured the fifth spot behind Fresno.

Fresno’s Housing Starts Couldn’t Keep Up with Rents

Households that spend more than half of their money on income are considered severely rent burdened.

Households are considered rent burdened when they spend more than 30% of income on rent, according to the Census. In Fresno, 46.9% of renters spend at least 35% of income on rent.

Renters only spend on average 25.6% of income on housing across the U.S.

Increasing housing has been a goal of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s administration. At an August luncheon with Fresno Housing, he said housing security was a “fundamental right,” and that local government’s role in getting homes built is crucial.

In the years since the pandemic, housing creation has been strong, according to city of Fresno data. From 2013 to 2018, the city issued an average of 1,282 housing permits annually, according to reports from the city. Reports from 2019 did not break down the number of rental units.

From 2021 to 2023, that rate increased, averaging 1,877 units yearly. That increase came in large part from apartment construction.

Also in the years following the pandemic, Fresno experienced some the fastest and highest rent increases in the nation.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

DON'T MISS

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

DON'T MISS

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

DON'T MISS

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

DON'T MISS

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

DON'T MISS

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

DON'T MISS

Justice Department Reaches Deal to Allow Boeing to Avoid Prosecution Over 737 Max Crashes

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Wildland Fire Burns One Acre Before Being Contained

UP NEXT

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

UP NEXT

Clovis Church’s ‘Giving Truck’ Offers Free Coffee With a Twist

UP NEXT

Memorial Day Weekend Packed With Fresno Area Events. Which Will You Attend?

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Carl Raymond Lipsey

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Hand Out 53 Citations in Pedestrian, Bicycle Safety Crackdown

UP NEXT

Trump Re-Escalates Trade Threats, Takes Aim at European Union, Apple

UP NEXT

US New Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise in April

UP NEXT

Stop Making Cents: US Mint Moves Forward With Plans to Kill the Penny

UP NEXT

Fresno County Detectives Revive 2017 Drive-By Murder Case

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

1 hour ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

1 hour ago

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

2 hours ago

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

3 hours ago

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

3 hours ago

Justice Department Reaches Deal to Allow Boeing to Avoid Prosecution Over 737 Max Crashes

3 hours ago

Fresno County Wildland Fire Burns One Acre Before Being Contained

4 hours ago

Clovis Church’s ‘Giving Truck’ Offers Free Coffee With a Twist

4 hours ago

Should Fresno Make It Easier to Convert Office Buildings Into Housing?

5 hours ago

Oracle to Buy $40 Billion of Nvidia Chips for OpenAI’s US Data Center, FT Reports

5 hours ago

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that California will distribute $56 million across 52 counties to house and support young adults leavi...

1 minute ago

1 minute ago

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

13 minutes ago

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

A Valley Crimes Stoppers tip and surveillance footage led Fresno police to arrest Andy Ramos on Thursday, May 22, 2025, who confessed to a May 11 shooting that left a man hospitalized in stable condition. (Fresno PD)
38 minutes ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

Police officers and forensic experts work at Hamburg's main train station, after several people were injured in a knife attack, in Hamburg, Germany, May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
1 hour ago

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

A view of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo
1 hour ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

Emergency personnel work at the crash scene on a street, after a small civilian aircraft went down in a military neighborhood in San Diego, California, U.S. May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
2 hours ago

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

3 hours ago

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

3 hours ago

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend