A recent report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition shows the average wage needed to afford rent in North Carolina is increasing.
The annual report is called "Out of Reach: the High Cost of Housing." The study looks at what’s called a “housing wage,” which is what people must earn to afford rent and utilities without spending more than 30% of their income. Individuals who spend a larger share than that are considered cost-burdened.
According to the report, a full-time worker in North Carolina would need to make just over $27 an hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment. Last year, that number was around $25.
North Carolina is ranked 30th when it comes to the highest housing wage in the country.