National median new-home price: $196,100
(The builders listed below each offer a house at the median price of the particular market they are in.)
CITY: Las Vegas
Median new-home price: $210,795
Builder/Home price: Astoria Homes, $210,990
Features: 1,536 square feet; three bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story
Median area income: $54,700
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,368
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $16.46
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 128
CITY: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Calif.
Median new-home price: $315,300
Builder/Home price: Pardee Homes, $315,990
Features: 1,353 square feet; three bedroom/two bath condo unit with two-car garage
Median area income: $50,300
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,258
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $19.63
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 116
CITY: Chicago
Median new-home price: $216,300
Builder/Home price: Kennedy Homes, $216,000
Features: 3,160 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-car garage
Median area income: $68,700
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,718
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142
CITY: Tampa/ St. Petersburg/ Clearwater, Fla.
Median new-home price: $178,700
Builder/Home price: Inland Homes, $178,900
Features: 2,053 square feet; three bedrooms/two baths; two-story
Median area income: $49,700
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,243
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $15.02
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 117
CITY: Minneapolis/ St. Paul
Median new-home price: $210,300
Builder/ Home price: Orrin Thompson Homes, $208,405
Features: 1,516 square feet; two bedrooms/ one bath; two-story
Median area income: $75,300
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,883
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142
CITY: Boston
Median new-home price: $297,200
Builder/Home Price: DJG Construction, $305,000
Features: 1,345 square feet; two bedrooms/ two baths; active-adult community
Median area income: $80,800
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,020
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $27.29
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 162
CITY: Middlesex/ Somerset/Hunterdon, N.J., PMSA*
Median new-home price: $553,425
Builder/Home price: Kalian Cos., $528,712
Features: 2,650 square feet; four bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story
Median area income: $86,900
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,173
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $22.38
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 174
*Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area
CITY: Atlanta
Median new-home price: $147,900
Builder/Home price: The Knight Group, $147,900
Features: 1,806 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-story
Median area income: $68,800
Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,720
Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.15
Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 141
—Data compiled by J. Sturgeon and P. Curry
Sources: National Low Income Housing Coalition, U.S. Census Bureau, NAHB, National Association Of Realtors, and Local HBAS and Builders
Note: Minimum wage varies from state to state.
