Rental Affordability

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Rents Continue to Rise, Becoming Out of Reach for Many Workers 

Lack of affordable rental housing can lead to crowding, household stress, and an increased risk of eviction and homelessness. Less affordable rental housing also restricts the ability of renters to save for a down payment on a home, limiting their ability to generate wealth through homeownership. This indicator tracks the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area’s median rents, the hourly wage needed to afford median rent, and which growth occupations are able to afford the median rent in the region.   

TREND

The Riverside-San Bernardino metro area’s housing wage increased by 15% from 2024 to 2025.[1] The hourly wage needed to afford a median-priced one-bedroom unit increased from $33.96 in 2024 to $39.19 in 2025. This is comparable to an annual income of $70,640 growing to $81,520.[2] Over the last decade, the housing wage has more than doubled, from $18.17 in 2016.  

RIVERSIDE-SAN BERNARDINO METRO AREA HOUSING WAGE INCREASE IS ACCELERATING
Hourly Wage Needed to Afford a Median-priced One-bedroom Unit in Riverside-San Bernardino Metro Area, 2016-2025

Source: Analysis of Housing and Urban Development 2025 50th Percentile Rent Estimates (www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/50per.html#2025) using the methodology of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (http://nlihc.org/oor) 

Median monthly rent for a one-bedroom unit in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area jumped from $1,766 in 2024 to $2,038 in 2025, an increase of $272 over the past year, or 15%. As shown below, rents of units of all sizes have grown by more than 100% over the past 10 years.  

RIVERSIDE-SAN BERNARDINO METRO AREA MEDIAN RENTS ARE INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE FOR LOWER-WAGE WORKERS
Monthly Median Rents in Riverside-San Bernardino Metro Area, 2016-2025

Source: Analysis of Housing and Urban Development 2025 50th Percentile Rent Estimates (www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/50per.html#2025) using the methodology of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (http://nlihc.org/oor) 

The mean hourly wage across all occupations in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area is $30.69, less than the housing wage needed to afford median-priced one-bedroom rent. Across all occupations in the region, 76% have wages below the housing wage needed for a one-bedroom unit.  Among six growth occupations in the region, on average, elementary school teachers and registered nurses earn above the housing wage needed to afford median one-bedroom rent. Whereas, on average, home health aides, retail salespersons, transportation and materials moving and construction and extraction occupations cannot afford a one-bedroom unit in the region.  

MORE THAN HALF OF GROWTH OCCUPATIONS FALL BELOW THE WAGE NEEDED TO AFFORD A MEDIAN ONE-BEDROOM UNIT
Average Hourly Wages for Growth Occupations and Hourly Wage Needed to Afford Median One-Bedroom Rent in Riverside-San Bernardino Metro Area, 2024

Note: The “hourly wage needed” estimate presented in this graphic differs from the estimate provided elsewhere in the narrative. Data used in the analysis for this graphic uses 2024 median rent estimate data to align with 2024 occupational wage data available. Data used elsewhere relies on 2025 median rent estimates to develop the most up to data “hourly wage needed” estimate available.

Sources: Analysis of Housing and Urban Development 2024 50th Percentile Rent Estimates (www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/50per.html#2024) applying the methodology of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (http://nlihc.org/oor); California Employment Development Department, Occupational Employment Statistics (www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/oes-employment-and-wages.html) 

GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON

Despite recent increases in regional rents, the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area continues to boast some of the least expensive rental housing in the Southern California region.  

SAN BERNARDINO METRO’S HOUSING WAGE IS LOWER THAN NEIGHBORING PEER MARKETS
Hourly Wage Needed to Afford Median Rent in San Bernardino and Peer Markets, 2025

Source: Analysis of Housing and Urban Development 2025 Median Rents (www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html) using the methodology of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (http://nlihc.org/oor) 

Rent Burden Comparison

In San Bernardino County, 49% of renting households pay 35% or more of their income on rent. This compares to 47% statewide and 43% nationwide.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates, 2023 (DP04)

Factors Contributing to Rent Increases in San Bernardino County

Increasing rents in the Riverside-San Bernardino region stem from multiple factors. Steady job creation and increased population growth have increased demand for rental housing. At the same time, low affordability for homebuyers keeps many families in the rental market, increasing the demand for units an decreasing vacancy rates. Recently, wildfire victims looking for new homes helped to fill new complexes. Continued high demand for housing with fewer available units leads to higher prices and competition among renters. In 2024, San Bernardino and Riverside counties experienced a 5% decline in vacancy rates as rents rose by about $800.

Source: Lanser, Jonathan. “Where are Inland Empire’s biggest rent hikes?” The Sun. April 10,2025. https://www.sbsun.com/2025/04/09/where-are-inland-empires-biggest-rent-hikes/ and Ullman, Augustina. “As People Leave California, How Are Rental Prices Affected?” Public Policy Institute of California. November 12. 2024. https://www.ppic.org/blog/as-people-leave-california-how-are-rental-prices-affected/


[1] The housing wage is an estimate of the hourly wage a full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fair market rent without spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

[2] Assumes 2,080 paid hours per year (52 weeks at 40 hours per week).

1Assumes 2,080 paid hours per year (52 weeks at 40 hours per week). 2Assumes 2019 California minimum wage of $12.00/hour, which is the wage for companies with 26 or more employees; wage for companies with 25 or fewer employees is $11.00/hour.