Affordability Tables 2025
Given that we are about to enter into a season of constant housing and land-use policy conversation it seems like a good time to update the "A"ffordable housing tables. The standard for "A"ffordabilty is for the total monthly housing costs not to exceed 30% of gross household income. For the state and federal governments this calculation is always made off of the median household income of the county; that is the number which matters in the context of block grants, tax credits, etc... I am including the city of Grand Rapids table here for reference.
The median household income for Kent county is $80,390/yr, the city of Grand Rapids is $65,526/yr. The median household income of the city is 78% that of the county.
The Housing, Transportation, and H+T (Housing + Transportation) columns are the respective percentages of household income divided by twelve (12) to produce a monthly value.
Aside from the governments "30% rule" there is a school of thought that housing and transportation should not total more than 50% of gross income; H+T recognizes the trade-off which almost always occurs between housing costs (higher in urban areas) and transportation costs (lower in urban areas).
City of Grand Rapids
| % | Houehold Income/yr | Housing (30%)/mo | Transportation (20%)/mo | H+T (50%)/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | $13,105 | $327.63 | $218.42 | $546.05 |
| 30% | $19,658 | $491.45 | $327.63 | $819.08 |
| 50% | $32,763 | $819.08 | $546.05 | $1,365.13 |
| 60% | $39,316 | $982.89 | $655.26 | $1,638.15 |
| 80% | $52,421 | $1,310.52 | $873.68 | $2,184.20 |
| 100% | $65,526 | $1,638.15 | $1,092.10 | $2,730.25 |
| 120% | $78,631 | $1,965.78 | $1,310.52 | $3,276.30 |
| 150% | $98,289 | $2,457.23 | $1,638.15 | $4,095.38 |
| 200% | $131,052 | $3,276.30 | $2,184.20 | $5,460.50 |
Kent County
| % | Houehold Income/yr | Housing (30%)/mo | Transportation (20%)/mo | H+T (50%)/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | $16,078 | $401.95 | $267.97 | $669.92 |
| 30% | $24,117 | $602.93 | $401.95 | $1,004.88 |
| 50% | $40,195 | $1,004.88 | $669.92 | $1,674.79 |
| 60% | $48,234 | $1,205.85 | $803.90 | $2,009.75 |
| 80% | $64,312 | $1,607.80 | $1,071.87 | $2,679.67 |
| 100% | $80,390 | $2,009.75 | $1,339.83 | $3,349.58 |
| 120% | $96,468 | $2,411.70 | $1,607.80 | $4,019.50 |
| 150% | $120,585 | $3,014.63 | $2,009.75 | $5,024.38 |
| 200% | $160,780 | $4,019.50 | $2,679.67 | $6,699.17 |
Related
- Lending, Race, and High Income Households, UrbanGR 2024-05
- The Myth Of The Out-Of-State Housing Hoover, UrbanGR 2024-04
- Housing Affordability tables from 2022-09, UrbanGR 2022-09
- Housing for only for the rich?, UrbanGR 2015-03