All Oregon Counties: Comparison of 3 Person VLI Income Limits and HUD 2 BR FMR's for Select Years 1991 to 2015.

My prior post HERE had a similar comparison for the Portland Metro Area. 

I have expanded and refined that analysis in Excel to permit users to compare up to 7 Oregon counties side by side in differing years and over differing time periods . (You may need to scroll right to see all 7 counties). That Excel worksheet is HERE and embedded below.

Some observations

1. NOTE that as in prior post the share of income for rent and affordability are all calculated at the TOP END of the 50% MFI 3 person income LIMIT; the vast majority of low income families are BELOW the TOP END of that income limit and will therefore experience bigger problems with affordability than this data indicates
2. In 2015 vs 1991, the share of 3 person household income limit for very low income families required to afford the 2 BR HUD FMR is lower for ALL Oregon counties EXCEPT for the Portland metro area.  [See rows 1 and 5 in Excel worksheet].
3. Most of those reductions in the share of income required for rent were achieved prior to 2005; since 2005 rents have increased MUCH faster than incomes, eroding the gains in affordability made prior to 2005. [See rows 19 -21 in the Excel worksheet to compare recent income and rent increase percentages].
4. Benton and Gilliam counties are the only counties in 2015 where the share of the 3 person very low income limit required to afford the 2 BR HUD FMR is BELOW 30% [See row 5 in Excel worksheet].
5. If you scroll down past the table you will see a graph that shows affordability for the selected counties for the years 1991,2000, 2005, 2014, and 2015.
6. I have hidden rows with data used in the visible table, but have not password protected the workbook. If you want to see additional data simply unhide all rows. 

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.