Renting vs Buying: Cost Comparisons Across 30 Cities in 2024

September 6, 2024: When deciding whether to rent or buy a home, many factors come into play, particularly the cost differences in different cities. Analyzing the data for 30 cities, it is evident that buying a home is significantly more expensive than renting. This analysis highlights how mortgage payments (PITI) and rent compare across various cities, offering insight into the affordability of homeownership. In no city does the cost of owning a home, even with a 20% down payment, come out cheaper than renting.

Take Austin, for example. With a median household income of $110,300, homeowners who put down 20% for their home will still face a mortgage payment of $4,603 per month, which is over 50% of their total income. In contrast, the median rent in Austin is $2,267, only taking up 24.7% of income. This stark difference makes renting a much more affordable option for those living in the area.

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Similarly, in Bastrop, a city with a median household income of $68,591, homeowners spend 57.1% of their income on PITI, which amounts to $3,262 monthly. Renters, however, only need to allocate 34.8% of their income toward rent, which is $1,991. While the cost of renting is still substantial, it remains much lower than the cost of owning a home. The data shows that homeownership in Bastrop is considerably more financially burdensome compared to renting.

The situation is not much different in other cities such as Cedar Park and Del Valle. In Cedar Park, the median income is $110,478, and homeowners spend 46.4% of their income on their mortgage. Renters, however, only need to allocate 24.2% of their income to rent, which is a significant reduction. In Del Valle, homeowners use 48.8% of their income to cover mortgage costs, compared to renters who spend 35.2%. This trend repeats across the analyzed cities, making it clear that renting is the more affordable option in terms of percentage of income.

Perhaps the most extreme case is in Spicewood, where the median household income is $110,573. Homeowners in this area spend a staggering 73.8% of their income on PITI, with mortgage payments reaching $6,797. Renters, by contrast, spend only 31.6% of their income on rent, amounting to $2,908 per month. This data paints a clear picture of how high the financial burden can be for those trying to own a home in certain cities.

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Even in areas with relatively moderate housing markets, such as Jarrell or Kyle, homeowners are still spending a significant portion of their income on PITI. In Jarrell, with a median income of $89,712, PITI accounts for 30.3% of income, while rent takes up 24.3%. Similarly, in Kyle, homeowners spend 43.8% of their income on mortgage payments, while renters only spend 30.2%. While these percentages are lower than in cities like Austin or Spicewood, the difference between renting and buying remains substantial.

Overall, the data consistently shows that renting is more affordable than buying in every city analyzed. Homeowners are typically spending a larger portion of their income on mortgage payments than renters do on rent. For those considering homeownership, this information is crucial to understanding the long-term financial commitment and its impact on personal budgets.