Rent vs Paycheck in the U.S. — 40 years of the math
A data story about U.S. rent, wages, and affordability using public BLS and FRED series over roughly four decades.
The story
Meet Maya and Jordan, two renters facing the same rent bill but very different paychecks. The page shows what happens as rent keeps climbing while the federal minimum wage stays frozen.
The charts compare rent, hourly pay, annual income, and the share of a paycheck needed to keep a roof overhead.
Why it matters
Housing affordability is not only about rent increasing; it is about rent increasing relative to the income available after taxes, essentials, and wage stagnation.
The page turns abstract inflation and wage data into a concrete household budget story.