The 10-worst-cities-for-renters

hannikan

I thought this was interesting as we look for housing again... 

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/the-10-worst-cities-for-renters.html

Passanie

Interesting. They seem to be using an average income to rent ratio. I wonder what the difference would be if everyone was employed or there weren't poverty problems. I wonder how much that skews things, kwim?

hannikan

Yeah, I think a lot of it has to do with unemployment due to the recession. I would think some of these locations would not have been so hard to rent in a few years ago. A few years ago I'm sure SF and NYC and L.A. would have topped the list.

anneg

this is a reflection of the increasing income disparity in this country.  you can't have 1-3% of the population controlling 60% of the wealth w/out massive amounts of poverty and working poor.  the highest median income in all of those cities was $38900, which means half of families are making LESS than that.  but hey, god forbid we tax the people who can afford it.  can't have than in america anymore.

pink.dutch.tulips

if you notice where the vast majority of these cities are, it really isn't shocking. they're all upper midwest rust belt cities. areas that relied on skilled manufacturing jobs that didn't require an education past hs are finding themselves on the short end of the stick once those jobs literally VANISHED and the folks there don't have the skills or education to find gainful employment in the service sector.

i thought it was odd that new haven, ct (home to yale u.) was on that list. college students must REALLY mess w/ the ratio there