Working 40 hours won't pay rent in 15 Pa. counties. Bucks County among least affordable

Despite making more than minimum wage, the average Pennsylvania renter in most counties needs weekly overtime or at least two jobs to keep even a one-bedroom apartment affordable, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Census, labor and other data compiled and analyzed by the nonprofit show that a 40-hour work week for the average renter in 38 of 67 counties would struggle to pay rent and other bills, even for workers making double or triple the state’s $7.25 an hour wage.

The data is part of NLIHC’s annual Out of Reach report reviewing the wages and hours needed to make sure that no more than 30% of pay goes to housing costs, an affordability threshold that has been a federal standard since at least 1981.

“Although most indicators show that the economy is strong, the lowest-income renters continue to confront significant challenges finding and maintaining access to safe and affordable rental housing,” this year’s report reads. “Insufficient wages, rising rents, and an inadequate housing safety net all contribute to the problem.”

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In the Philadelphia suburbs of Bucks County, where the average renter makes the 18th highest wage of $16.88 an hour, a person paying the fair market rent of $1,451 a month — the highest in the state — would need to work 66 hours, more hours than all but two counties.

Pike County’s average renter wage is $11.75 an hour with a one-bedroom rent at about $1,255 a month. A renter there would need to work 82 hours a week to lift their housing cost burden.

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Here’s a look at the 15 counties in Pennsylvania requiring the most hours needed to make rent, including the average renter wage.

Pike County: 82 hours at $11.75 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,255 a month.

Perry County: 81 hours at $9.65 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,021 a month.

Bucks County: 66 hours at $16.88 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,451 a month.

Centre County: 64 hours at $13.52 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,133 a month.

Carbon County: 62 hours at $14.03 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,137 a month.

Fayette County: 60 hours at $12.38 to afford a one-bedroom at $965 a month.

Monroe County: 59 hours at $14.59 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,119 a month.

Delaware County: 56 hours at $19.88 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,451 a month.

Sullivan County: 55 hours at $9.81 to afford a one-bedroom at $697 a month.

Westmoreland County: 53 hours at $13.88 to afford a one-bedroom at $965 a month.

Northampton County: 53 hours at $16.40 to afford a one-bedroom at $1,137 a month.

Adams County: 52 hours at $14.87 to afford a one-bedroom at $997 a month.

Elk County: 49 hours at $11.40 to afford a one-bedroom at $722 a month.

Columbia County: 48 hours at $14.04 to afford a one-bedroom at $878 a month.

Wayne County: 48 hours at $13.70 to afford a one-bedroom at $850 a month.

Chris Ullery is the Philadelphia Hub Data Reporter for the USA Today Network. Reach him at cullery@couriertimes.com or find him on Twitter at @ulleryatinell.