Affordability

Can teachers afford to live here?

We pair each state's average teacher salary with local rent and mortgage estimates to show where a teacher's paycheck actually covers housing — and where it doesn't.

Best Affordable States for Teachers

#StateAvg SalaryRent (2BR)% of Income
01Washington$96,589$1,940/mo24%
02Illinois$78,495$1,610/mo25%
03Pennsylvania$79,078$1,652/mo25%
04Minnesota$76,234$1,608/mo25%
05Connecticut$89,593$1,916/mo26%
06New York$98,655$2,127/mo26%
07Michigan$71,023$1,532/mo26%
08Rhode Island$85,772$1,880/mo26%
09Georgia$71,524$1,573/mo26%
10Maryland$87,409$1,962/mo27%

Lower % of income spent on rent = more affordable. The 30% rule is the common healthy benchmark.

Where Teachers Get Stretched Thinnest

HI

Hawaii

50%

of avg salary on rent

FL

Florida

37%

of avg salary on rent

ME

Maine

35%

of avg salary on rent

AZ

Arizona

35%

of avg salary on rent

LA

Louisiana

33%

of avg salary on rent

Browse All 50 States

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