Housing Cost Burden by Age for Rent Controlled UnitsHousing Cost Burden by Age for Rent Controlled Units
Percent of household income paid for
gross rent (includes utilities) by age category, for rent controlled
units only, 1998. Percentage of income paid for gross rent (often
referred to as rent burden or housing cost burden) is one
measure of affordability, with not more than 30% of household
income paid toward gross rent considered the appropriate
affordable amount.
Geographic Areas Covered: City of San Francisco.
Ø There is considerable difference between the rent
burdens of different age groups in rent controlled
units.
Ø Elderly renters in most places tend to have higher
rent burdens than other renters, and this pattern
holds for San Francisco’s rent controlled units. The
median rent burden of elderly renter households is
39%, well over the threshold of affordability.
Ø The age group with the lowest rent burden is the 25
to 34 age group, with a median rent burden of 16%.
1998 American
Housing Survey sample size is relatively
limited (895 rent controlled units and 265
market rate units) and weighted based on
1990 census data, leading to potential
margin of error. See Appendix for
methodology for classification as rent
controlled or market rate units. Note that
some units do not fall in either category
(e.g., public housing), and are not shown
Median Rent Burden by Age for Rent Controlled Units, 1998
Not computed/No cash rent
Total 17,000 100% 45,600 100% 33,100 100% 22,900 100% 10,000 100% 16,000 100%
(a) Limited to households paying cash rent.
Sample size too limited to provide crosstabulated data for market rate units. Totals may not add due to independent rounding. Numbers should be considered
in light of potential sampling error of weighted sample. Sample size = 895 rent-controlled units and 265 market rate units. Reflects 1997 incomes of 1998
households. See Appendix for methodology regarding how units were typed as rent controlled and market rate. Rent controlled excludes units subject to
Source: BAE, 2001, based on microdata analysis of the
1998 American Housing Survey for the San Francisco Metropolitan Area
, from the U.S. Census Bureau.
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Under 25 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and
Older
Median Percent of Income to Gross Rent