Ever hear of the 30% rule? If you live by the 30% rule, you spend no more than 30% of your income on rent. However, a 2024 Redfin study found that more than 20% of Americans are spending 100% of their paychecks on rent or working second jobs to be able to afford a place to live. With stats like that, how on earth (or where in the U.S.) are we able to implement the 30% rule?
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You can find some cities where folks in the bottom percentile of middle-class earners can spend 30% or less of their income on average local rent. And you can do this even on the famously expensive West Coast. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the West 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 holds onto the most money post-rent.
12. Rockcreek, Oregon
- Average rent, monthly: $1,684
- Average rent, annually: $20,211
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $69,857
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $746
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11. Dublin, California
- Average rent, monthly: $3,351
- Average rent, annually: $40,217
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $136,697
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $41,009
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $792
10. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Average rent, monthly: $2,267
- Average rent, annually: $27,200
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $93,627
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $28,088
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $888
9. Redmond, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $2,614
- Average rent, annually: $31,373
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $108,066
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $32,420
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $1,047
8. Happy Valley, Oregon
- Average rent, monthly: $1,910
- Average rent, annually: $22,925
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $80,216
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $24,065
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $1,140
7. Sammamish, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $3,600
- Average rent, annually: $43,197
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $151,515
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $45,455
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $2,258
6. La Center, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $1,777
- Average rent, annually: $21,322
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $79,086
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $23,726
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $2,404
5. Newcastle, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $2,505
- Average rent, annually: $30,060
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $108,431
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $32,529
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $2,469
4. Belmont, California
- Average rent, monthly: $3,059
- Average rent, annually: $36,708
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $138,406
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $41,522
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $4,814
3. Lake Forest Park, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $2,202
- Average rent, annually: $26,421
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $105,912
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $31,774
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $5,353
2. Mercer Island, Washington
- Average rent, monthly: $2,858
- Average rent, annually: $34,293
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $134,906
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $40,472
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $6,179
1. El Sobrante, California
- Average rent, monthly: $2,135
- Average rent, annually: $25,619
- Minimum middle-class income, annually: $106,887
- 30% of the minimum middle-class income: $32,066
- Leftover savings after paying 30% toward rent: $6,448
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the West Coast of the U.S. 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 West Coast Cities Where Rent Costs 30% or Less of a Middle-Class Income
