People in These States Are Having the Hardest Time Paying Rent

Nearly 5% of Americans remain unemployed, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While that number is the lowest recorded since the onset of the pandemic, it’s still significantly higher than it was before COVID-19. Many other Americans are now under-employed, with cuts to their hours or loss of business.

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With so many people seeing their income reduced, it’s no surprise that many are struggling to pay their rent. But people are struggling in some states worse than in others. To get a better sense of which places have the most vulnerable renters, GOBankingRates conducted a study to determine which locales have the worst combination of high rents and high unemployment. The study included the unemployment rate, the average rent on a one-bedroom apartment and the percentage of people who missed a rent or mortgage payment last month or have no expectation to be able to pay next month, per the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

Take a closer look at which places appear to be having the toughest time paying rent, and which states have a better chance at bouncing back from the crisis.

Last updated: Oct. 22, 2021 

• December unemployment rate: 3.6%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $944
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,281,207
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 56,213

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 4.0%

• December unemployment rate: 4.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $672
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 561,016
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 13,621

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 4.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,144
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 5,890,357
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 175,814

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 4.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $994
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,073,014
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 30,765

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 4.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: N/A
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 485,485
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 14,789

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 5.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.9%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $850
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,065,620
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 31,266

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 5.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.5%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $763
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 4,438,719
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 134,528

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 5.1%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,133
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 5,324,065
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 191,678

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 5.8%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $745
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,418,191
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 51,548

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 6.3%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $997
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 3,302,727
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 135,797

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 6.4%

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• December unemployment rate: 9.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,418
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,073,229
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 45,709

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 6.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $728
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 822,204
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 34,894

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 6.9%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $691
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,343,198
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 58,013

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 6.9%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.9%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,171
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 6,472,737
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 280,797

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 7.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 8.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,155
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 4,454,718
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 209,615

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 7.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $721
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 4,617,880
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 192,722

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 7.3%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.6%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,282
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 6,776,822
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 279,340

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 7.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $868
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 8,017,566
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 355,974

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.5%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $761
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 7,644,458
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 326,514

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $727
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 5,015,550
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 229,565

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $600
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,246,527
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 88,386

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $596
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,379,576
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 52,691

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.3%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $646
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,342,905
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 102,684

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.4%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,098
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 17,085,385
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 786,106

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.4%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $627
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 642,658
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 30,166

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.7%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $831
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 9,776,154
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 426,118

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $876
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 4,241,624
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 216,529

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.5%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $965
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 5,597,268
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 288,107

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $685
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 3,344,102
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 170,325

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 8.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,095
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,732,423
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 141,812

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 8.9%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $969
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 7,955,983
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 412,446

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 9.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.9%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $726
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 3,717,378
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 177,537

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 9.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.9%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,552
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 542,635
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 36,093

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 9.4%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.6%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $859
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 9,546,424
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 511,738

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 9.6%

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• December unemployment rate: 3.8%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $694
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,140,957
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 118,723

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,122
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 754,637
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 43,148

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 8.1%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $924
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 817,559
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 49,851

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.4%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.5%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $677
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 8,822,539
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 515,662

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.6%

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• December unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $988
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,399,457
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 160,386

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.9%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $974
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 524,925
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 36,488

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 10.9%

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• December unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $685
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,916,436
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 170,910

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 11.1%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.6%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $852
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 3,969,123
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 233,903

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 11.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $930
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 21,356,906
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 1,356,917

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 11.7%

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• December unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,308
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 14,847,080
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 964,774

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.0%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $800
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 5,221,475
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 317,433

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.1%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.3%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,245
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 4,586,920
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 353,007

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.1%

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• December unemployment rate: 4.8%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $676
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 433,400
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 30,632

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 9.0%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,433
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 29,939,021
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 2,232,487

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.3%

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• December unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $750
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 1,589,574
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 113,055

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 12.5%

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• December unemployment rate: 6.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $699
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 2,189,670
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 140,639

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 13.2%

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• December unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $754
• Total population (ages 18 and older): 3,431,432
• Adults unable to pay for housing: 300,053

Percentage of population unable to pay for housing: 17.9%

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Methodology: GOBankingRates reviewed the United States Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to find out where Americans are having the hardest time paying rent. The survey measures the number of adults in each state who are not current on rent or mortgage payments, or who have slight or no confidence that their household can pay next month’s rent or mortgage on time as of the period Dec. 9-21, 2020. GOBankingRates ordered all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the state where the highest percentage of the adult population is unable to pay for housing (No. 1) to the state where the lowest percentage is unable to pay for housing (No. 51). They are ranked here in reverse order. GOBankingRates also provided the December 2020 unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the December 2020 estimated rent for a one-bedroom apartment from Apartment List for each state as supplemental information. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 26, 2021.