NPR
It's getting harder to afford rent in the U.S., even for middle-income families
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
One in five renters struggled to pay rent in full and on time in 2025, according to research on housing affordability. The affordability challenges extended to middle-income renters, not only lower-income households. The research did not specify which organization conducted the study or provide additional details on methodology or data collection period.
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/23/nx-s1-5977022/rent-affordability-middle-income
