Households (renters and homeowners) that spend more than 30% of their income on housing have less money available for other essential needs like food, transportation, and healthcare. Spending more than 30% of income on housing indicates affordability problems and potential negative effects on well-being. This makes cost burden a key indicator for housing policy and understanding housing affordability issues within a community.

The number of households (renters and homeowners) spending more than 30% of their income on housing has increased from 2019. This change is largely driven by an increase in the number of renter households with cost burden. 

In 2019, 46.8% of renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing. This number climbed to 53% in the newly released 2023 American Community Survey Data.

The percentage of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs is calculated for communities annually by the Census Bureau in the American Community Survey.

Detailed information on Portland's housing stock and affordability can be found in the Portland Housing Bureau's State of Housing Report.