The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) recently released new data on the rental housing market in rural America. Among the new data:
- More than 6.3 million housing units, or 24 percent of the total occupied rural housing stock, are renter occupied;
- Rural renters’ median household income is approximately $21,000 compared to $43,000 for rural owners;
- Nearly 40 percent of rural renters occupy single-family homes — twice the rate of metropolitan area renters;
- 34 percent of rural renter-occupied units were built before 1960;
- Approximately 11 percent of rural renters live in either moderately or severely inadequate housing, compared to 5 percent of rural owners;
- Approximately 36 percent of rural renter households pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income for housing costs and are considered cost-burdened, compared to 20 percent for owners;
- In non-metro areas, 1.25 million or 8 percent of rental households receive some type of government housing assistance.
