5 of 10 most expensive metro areas are in Cali

[^_^ 5,021]

From Introduction:

The Housing Wage ... represents the hourly wage one would need to earn in order to pay what HUD estimates to be the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for an

apartment, spending no more than 30% of income on housing costs.

Most Expensive Metropolitan Areas. 5 of the top 10 are in California.

Metropolitan Areas by Housing Wage

$35.25 San Francisco, CA HMFA

$34.83 Stamford-Norwalk, CT HMFA

$33.27 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA

$32.73 Honolulu, HI MSA

$32.73 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HMFA

$31.94 Nassau-Suffolk, NY HMFA

$30.79 Danbury, CT HMFA

$30.46 Orange County, CA HMFA

$30.02 Westchester County, NY

$29.37 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA

My own county is reported to have a Housing Wage of $27.87. The calculator is here.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Tarrant County - Housing Wage of $15.97.

I don't get why in the world people would live in San Fran... Of course some people say the same about here, but when your city is so bad that it needs its own minimum wage level to survive, it's ridiculous. taxes, regulations, etc. all contribute to a lot of the BS out west. It's why so many damn transplants move here to the DFW from Cali.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

...And that's why we're now sharing an apartment with two other guys!

I love this state and all of Alex's family is here, but I can't help but wonder what it must be like to not have to worry about money so constantly.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

$29.37 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA

Number ten with a bullet!

My area is still affordable, I guess, at $14.01

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Tarrant County - Housing Wage of $15.97.

I don't get why in the world people would live in San Fran... Of course some people say the same about here, but when your city is so bad that it needs its own minimum wage level to survive, it's ridiculous. taxes, regulations, etc. all contribute to a lot of the BS out west. It's why so many damn transplants move here to the DFW from Cali.

DFW rocks; I'm still trying to figure how to ask my boss to move me there permanently (rather than Reston) where I get clobbered for $28.10 (I like Dallas as "my" pastor when I was there had the sense to pray about a certain situation rather than suggest off a list of non-solutions).

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Tarrant County - Housing Wage of $15.97.

I don't get why in the world people would live in San Fran... Of course some people say the same about here, but when your city is so bad that it needs its own minimum wage level to survive, it's ridiculous. taxes, regulations, etc. all contribute to a lot of the BS out west. It's why so many damn transplants move here to the DFW from Cali.

Its a bit ironic in a way because everyone always jokes that there are no natives in the Bay Area. So maybe 1st Gen moves in on some opportunity, but then 2nd Gen doesn't have the same opportunity so they move to Texas.

I live in the Bay Area primarily because my wife wants to live here and avoid heat/cold. I guess she was just tired of British weather. I myself would enjoy living in the upper midwest or northwest. Mid-midwest is cool too, be it Kansas City, Wichita, or Omaha etc.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

The Bay Area's weather is just perfect; it's a definite reason to pay a premium.

Agree on the natives - my husband and friends are actually all natives of the area, but are really struggling (and probably couldn't afford it if I wasn't paying the chief part of the rent!) What I see is people moving here already with the educational qualifications/funds required to make a go of it. It's tough between the ages of 18-30.