The HUD Speedometer measures how affordable rental housing is where you live by comparing local rents to local incomes
The HUD Speedometer is a tool built by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that shows the relationship between what people earn and what they pay for rent in a specific city or county. It does not predict whether you personally can afford an apartment. Instead, it displays regional data: the median rent, the median income, and how much of a typical household's income goes toward housing costs.
The tool gets its name from the visual it uses — a gauge that moves from green (affordable) toward red (unaffordable) as the rent-to-income ratio climbs. A household is generally considered rent-burdened when housing costs exceed 30 percent of gross monthly income. The Speedometer shows where your area falls on that scale and how it has shifted over time.
Key Takeaways
- The HUD Speedometer displays median rent and median income for a specific city or county, then calculates what percentage of income goes to rent.
- The tool uses a gauge visual: green indicates rents below 30 percent of income, yellow indicates 30 to 50 percent, and red indicates above 50 percent.
- Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey and is updated annually, so figures lag current market conditions by one to two years.
- The Speedometer shows regional trends, not individual circumstances — your personal rent burden may differ significantly from the median.
- You can access the tool free at HUD's website by entering a city or county name to see how your area's housing affordability compares to national benchmarks.
How the Speedometer calculates rent burden
The calculation is straightforward: median monthly rent divided by median monthly household income, then multiplied by 100 to show a percentage. If the median rent in a county is $1,200 and the median household income is $4,000 per month, the ratio is 30 percent — the threshold where housing is considered affordable.
HUD uses this 30 percent benchmark because research shows households spending more than that on rent have less money left for food, transportation, medical care, and savings. When the ratio exceeds 50 percent, the area is flagged as severely unaffordable, meaning many residents are making difficult trade-offs to keep housing.
The Speedometer does not account for variations within a region. A county might show 35 percent overall, but renters in one neighborhood could pay 50 percent of income while renters in another pay 20 percent. The tool shows the average, not the range.
Where the data comes from and how current it is
The HUD Speedometer pulls figures from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, a large annual survey of housing and income across the country. This means the data is reliable but not real-time. The most recent figures available are typically one to two years old by the time they appear in the tool.
If you are looking at the Speedometer in 2024, the data likely reflects 2022 or 2023 conditions. Rents in many markets have shifted significantly since then, so the gauge may show a different picture than what you see when apartment hunting. Use the Speedometer to understand long-term trends in your area, not to predict current market prices.
HUD updates the Speedometer annually when the Census Bureau releases new American Community Survey results. You can check the tool's date stamp to see exactly which year's data you are viewing.
What the color zones mean
The Speedometer uses a three-color system to communicate rent burden at a glance. Green indicates a rent-to-income ratio below 30 percent — the federal standard for affordability. In these areas, a typical household can cover rent and still have substantial income for other expenses.
Yellow indicates a ratio between 30 and 50 percent. Households in yellow zones are rent-burdened, meaning housing costs consume a significant share of income and leave less room for other necessities. Many areas in high-cost states fall into yellow.
Red indicates a ratio above 50 percent. In red zones, median households are severely rent-burdened. This does not mean everyone in the area is in crisis, but it signals that housing affordability is a widespread problem and that many residents are likely struggling to pay other bills.
How to use the Speedometer to understand your local housing market
Visit HUD's website and locate the Speedometer tool. Enter your city or county name. The tool will display the current gauge reading, the median rent, the median household income, and the rent-to-income percentage. You can also see how your area's ratio has changed over the past several years, which shows whether affordability is improving or worsening.
Use this information to understand the broader context of housing in your region, but do not treat it as a personal budget tool. If the Speedometer shows your county at 40 percent, that does not mean you can afford to spend 40 percent of your income on rent. Your own situation depends on your actual income, debts, and expenses — not the median.
The Speedometer is most useful for seeing how your area compares to national trends and to neighboring counties. If your county is red and the state average is yellow, that tells you housing is particularly tight where you live. If your county has moved from yellow to red over five years, that signals a worsening affordability crisis.
Limitations of the Speedometer data
The Speedometer shows median figures, which means half the population earns more and half earns less. If your income is below the median, your rent burden is higher than the gauge suggests. Similarly, if you earn above the median, your burden is lower. The tool does not show this distribution.
The Speedometer also does not account for housing quality, vacancy rates, or whether available units match the income levels of people seeking them. An area might show green affordability overall, but renters with very low incomes may still struggle to find housing they can afford because most units are priced for higher earners.
Finally, the Speedometer measures rent only, not the full cost of housing. It does not include utilities, renters insurance, or the cost of homeownership. If you are comparing renting to buying, you will need additional tools and data.
How the Speedometer relates to other HUD resources
The Speedometer is one of several tools HUD provides to understand housing markets. It works alongside HUD's fair market rent data, which sets the maximum rent for housing voucher programs in each area, and HUD's comprehensive housing affordability strategy reports, which dive deeper into regional housing challenges.
If you are researching whether rental information programs operate in your area, or whether your income qualifies you for housing support, the Speedometer provides useful context about local conditions. However, you will need to contact your local housing authority or a 211 referral service to learn about specific programs and your own circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Speedometer to see if I can afford an apartment in a specific neighborhood?
No. The Speedometer shows county or city-level data, not neighborhood-level data. Even within a city, rents vary widely. Use the Speedometer to understand your region's overall affordability, then research specific neighborhoods and buildings separately using rental listing sites and local real estate data.
Why does the Speedometer show my area as affordable when I cannot find affordable housing?
The Speedometer uses median income and median rent. If you earn below the median or if most available units are priced above the median, you may struggle even though the overall ratio looks green. The tool shows the average experience, not everyone's experience.
How often does the Speedometer update?
The Speedometer updates once per year when the U.S. Census Bureau releases new American Community Survey data, usually in the fall. The data itself reflects conditions from the previous year, so there is typically a one- to two-year lag between when conditions change and when the Speedometer reflects that change.
What should I do if the Speedometer shows my area is severely unaffordable?
A red reading signals a regional affordability crisis, but it does not tell you what programs or options exist in your area. Contact your local housing authority, call 211, or visit your city or county housing department website to learn about rental information, housing vouchers, or other support programs that may be available.
Is the Speedometer the same as fair market rent?
No. Fair market rent is a specific figure HUD calculates for housing voucher programs and sets the maximum rent a voucher will cover. The Speedometer is a broader tool showing the relationship between median rent and median income across a region. Fair market rent is one input into affordability, but the Speedometer shows the full picture.