There’s an old financial rule of thumb that is getting harder and harder to live by: Spend no more than 30% of your income on rent. As costs of living and, specifically, costs of housing go up across the U.S., putting 70% of your income toward everything other than rent is just not feasible for many. A particularly unsettling study by Redfin in 2024 found that more than 20% of Americans are spending their entire paychecks on rent or working second jobs to be able to afford a place to live.
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But there are some cities, all over the nation in fact, where even those in the bottom percentile of middle-class earners can spend 30% or less of their income on average local rent. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the East Coast to find those where rent costs less than 30% of the minimum household income required to be middle class. Take a look at the top 12, where the middle class have the most money remaining after paying rent.
12. Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
- Average rent, monthly: $1,848
- Average rent, annually: $22,170
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $89,432
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $26,830
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $4,660
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11. Decatur, Georgia
- Average rent, monthly: $1,873
- Average rent, annually: $22,475
- Minimum middle-class income annually: $93,653
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $28,096
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $5,621
10. Davidson, North Carolina
- Average rent, monthly: $2,026
- Average rent, annually: $24,314
- Minimum middle-class income: $101,979
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $30,594
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $6,280
9. New Market, Maryland
- Average rent, monthly: $2,708
- Average rent, annually: $32,493
- Minimum middle-class income: $132,053
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $39,616
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $7,123
8. Medfield, Massachusetts
- Average rent, monthly: $2,506
- Average rent, annually: $30,075
- Minimum middle-class income: $124,417
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $37,325
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $7,250
7. Wyncote, Pennsylvania
- Average rent, monthly: $1,776
- Average rent, annually: $21,306
- Minimum middle-class income: $96,187
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $28,856
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $7,550
6. Great Falls, Virginia
- Average rent, monthly: $3,488
- Average rent, annually: $41,850
- Minimum middle-class income: $166,667
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $50,000
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $8,150
5. Fort Washington, Maryland
- Average rent, monthly: $1,708
- Average rent, annually: $20,497
- Minimum middle-class income: $97,295
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $29,188
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $8,692
4. Westfield, New Jersey
- Average rent, monthly: $2,657
- Average rent, annually: $31,887
- Minimum middle-class income: $141,800
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $42,540
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $10,653
3. Chevy Chase, Maryland
- Average rent, monthly: $2,843
- Average rent, annually: $34,113
- Minimum middle-class income: $166,667
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $50,000
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $15,887
2. McLean, Virginia
- Average rent, monthly: $2,800
- Average rent, annually: $33,601
- Minimum middle-class income: $166,667
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $50,000
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $16,399
1. Haddonfield, New Jersey
- Average rent, monthly: $1,776
- Average rent, annually: $21,310
- Minimum middle-class income: $127,255
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $38,176
- Leftover savings after 30% of income pays rent: $16,866
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the East Coast of the United States to find the cities where rent costs less than 30% of the middle-class household income. The average rent cost was sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index for June 2025. Pew Research Center defines middle-class income as two-thirds to double the median household income. Using the U.S. Census American Community Survey the median household income for cities was sourced and used to calculate the middle-class income range. Using the finance rule that states that housing costs should cost under 30% of household income, the minimum middle-class income threshold was used to calculate the average 30% of household income in each city. The cities with leftover savings after 30% of income covers all of the rent were kept for this study. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the average expenditure costs for all households, as sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all households, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each city. Using the average expenditure costs and rental costs, the average total cost of living for renters was calculated for each city. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included as supplemental information. The cities were sorted to show the largest leftover savings after 30% of household income covers the cost of rent. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 22, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 East Coast Cities Where Rent Costs 30% or Less of a Middle-Class Income
