Housing
Why Rent Is Still Rising In Places Where It's Cheaper To Own
The latest Census data confirm that plenty of renters could afford mortgages—but they can’t afford to buy homes.
Five years into the recovery, renters are still paying the price for the Great Recession. Rents are high and rising across much of the nation, at least in the places where many people live. That’s not surprising. What’s fascinating is the flip side—the changes happening in homeownership.
The U.S. Census Bureau has just released data from its regular five-year American Community Survey. The survey provides detailed statistics on all kinds of factors in American life, including college graduation rates, poverty rates, segregation and integration, and housing data—lots and lots of housing data.