Incomes in San Bernardino, California, rose a whopping 31.3 percent between 2019 and 2021 — but in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they fell 9.6 percent.
The stark difference is evident in a study that looked at how average earnings in America’s largest cities changed over time. It highlighted that some areas experienced a period of impressive growth while others declined.
San Bernardino, where median earnings hit $65,311 after the city posted the largest percentage increase in the country, was followed closely by Huntsville, Alabama, where earnings rose 30.21 percent, the SmartAsset study found.
Completing the top five were Moreno Valley, California (21.99 percent), Winston-Salem, North Carolina (21.65 percent) and Toledo, Ohio (20.27 percent).
Baton Rouge was the worst performer after median earnings fell to $41,257 from $45,819.
A study looked at how median income changed in America’s largest cities between 2019 and 2021. It highlighted that some areas have seen impressive growth while others have declined
In San Bernardino, the median income hit $65,311 after seeing the largest percentage increase in the country between 2019 and 2021
Baton Rouge was the worst performer after median earnings fell to $41,257 from $45,819
There have also been declines in some of America’s wealthiest cities. New York City’s median income fell 2.03 percent from $69,407 to $67,997, while San Francisco’s income fell from $123,859 to a still-desirable $121,826, a decrease of 1. corresponds to 69 percent.
The researchers studied cities with populations of 200,000 or more and used income data from the annual American Community Survey conducted by the US Census Bureau.
According to the SmartAsset report, “In general, median incomes in the US increased by only 3 percent over two years, but some cities have seen income growth as much as 10-fold.”
“While such inequalities can have a variety of causes, residents of these cities have had economic tailwinds that have helped them with recent increases in the cost of living.”
The results come at a time when the cost of living in the US continues to rise, thanks in part to rampant inflation — and with wages rising for many not in line with rising costs, rental growth nationwide is outpacing income growth — putting fiscal pressures under pressure exercise on the tenants.
Average rents have risen 134.9 percent since 1999, while incomes have risen 76.8 percent over the same period, data from Moody’s Analytics in May showed.
Moody’s analysis found that in 2022, the percentage of American household income needed to rent an apartment at an average price surpassed 30 percent for the first time in 25 years of monitoring this trend . The benchmark, known as the rent-to-income ratio (RTI), fell slightly to 29.6 percent at the beginning of 2023.
A study by Moody’s Analytics found that seven metro areas have average rental costs that are at least 30 percent of the median salary, putting pressure on renters’ living expenses
A separate study by Refin found that only four metro areas in the country have average mortgage prices below average rents. The four areas where mortgages are highest relative to rents are all in California
There are now seven metropolitan areas in the country where the RTI is more than 30 percent:
- Los Angeles: 36% RTI; Average rent $2,456
- Miami: 42% RTI; Average rent $2,141
- Palm Beach: 34% RTI; Average rent $2,051
- Fort Lauderdale: 37% RTI; Average rent $2,108
- New York: 68% RTI; Average rent $4,334
- Boston: 33% RTI; Average rent $2,948
- Northern New Jersey: 33% RTI; Average rent $2,416
A separate study by Redfin found that there are only four major metropolitan areas where estimated monthly mortgage costs are lower than estimated monthly rental costs.
In Detroit, Michigan, mortgages are about 24 percent lower than rents. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the difference is 6.6 percent.
In Cleveland, Ohio, the average mortgage is 3.9 percent cheaper and in Houston, Texas, 1.2 percent.
At the other end of the scale, the four places where mortgages are highest relative to rents are all in California.
In San Jose, the average mortgage of $11,049 is a staggering 164.6 percent more than the average rent of $4,176.
In San Francisco, the average mortgage is $10,892 compared to the average rental cost of $4,552 — a difference of 139.3 percent.
In San Jose, the average mortgage of $11,049 is a staggering 164.6 percent more than the average rent of $4,176
In San Francisco, the average mortgage is $10,892 compared to the average rental cost of $4,552 — a difference of 139.3 percent
In Cleveland, Ohio, the average mortgage is 3.9 percent cheaper than the average rent
Next comes Oakland, where rents average $3,700 but mortgages average $7,376 — a 99.4 percent difference.
And in Anaheim, the difference is 91.5 percent — with a mortgage averaging $7,892 and rent averaging $4,122.
Taylor Marr, Redfin’s deputy chief economist, said, “Buying a home often makes more financial sense than renting it when you can afford a down payment and a monthly mortgage because you’re building equity.”
“If you own a home, your home will pay you; When you rent, you and your home pay your landlord
“But buying isn’t a viable option for everyone.” Some people move a lot, so renting might make more sense as they don’t stay in their home long enough to build equity.
“Many others just don’t have the money for a down payment – a situation that’s becoming more common due to rising mortgage rates and increased house prices.”