An arm and a leg! Austin’s historically high rents

​​​AUSTIN – Neighborhoods with historically high rents have become even less affordable since 2010, according to Census data.

In 2010, median gross rent stood at 29.9 percent of household income. 

In 2014, that had increased to 30.7 percent of household income.

Federal housing officials say housing becomes unaffordable when one spends more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent. 

The map above, colored from light red to dark red, shows Census tracts where Austinites are paying estimated median gross rents equal to or more than 30 percent of their household income.

Only tracts where at least 20 percent of the housing is made up of renters are included. 

Light red is for tracts just across the 30 percent line, dark red is for tracts where estimated median rent is up to 50 percent or more of household income.

Across the entire Austin metro area, 48 percent of Austin renters are "cost-burdened" in this manner when it comes to housing.