Exploring the cost burden of rural rental housing

Abstract

As rural landscapes change in both geography and population, it is increasingly important to understand the unique challenges faced by these communities. Of notable significance is the rising cost of housing relative to household income – a measure often referred to as the housing cost-burden. Its subsequent effect on affordable and accessible housing is experienced on a national level, yet perceptions often place rural communities among the most vulnerable. The proceeding research seeks to challenge this notion and further analyze what rural residents, specifically rural renters, face in managing their housing costs. For instance, utilities are an often-overlooked contribution to the severity of the overall burden. Their presence as fixed, unadjusted, housing costs lie in aggregate of more direct expenditures. While utilities may lack immediacy, they are pervasive in their prolonged impact. Therefore, it is a combination of factors that make sub-populations of rural areas more susceptible to housing cost externalities. The importance lies in the subtle differences, where considerable policy opportunities exist.