Oklahoma among least rent-burdened states in the U.S.

Oklahoma ranks among the least rent-burdened states in the nation, according to a Visual Capitalist analysis of the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. 

The report shows that 19.6% of Oklahoma renter households spend more than half of their income on housing costs, a level the Census Bureau defines as “severely rent-burdened.” Nationally, 24.3% of renter households fall into this category. 

Oklahoma ranked eighth lowest in the nation, just behind Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. In comparison, some states reported as many as 30% of renters spending more than half of their income on housing. 

The findings reinforce Oklahoma’s reputation for relative housing affordability, particularly in the Oklahoma City metro area, where local leaders have prioritized balanced growth and workforce housing access as the city’s population expands. 

The Visual Capitalist report notes that Florida is the most rent-burdened state, with 30.1% of renter households paying more than half of their income on housing. Nevada (28.0%) and California (27.5%) follow closely behind, reflecting how fast-growing states with limited housing supply face greater affordability pressures. 

By contrast, states such as South Dakota (15.3%), North Dakota (15.7%) and Wyoming (17.0%) report the lowest shares of rent-burdened households. 

Nationwide, housing remains the largest expense for American renters. In OKC, maintaining a low rent burden is essential for keeping the metro affordable as new residents arrive and more employers invest in the region. 

The data provides another indicator that Oklahoma’s housing market, while tightening in some urban areas, remains among the most accessible in the country—a factor that continues to support growth across the Greater OKC region. 

To read the full article or look at the rest of the list you can follow this link Mapped: The Most Rent-Burdened States in America.