Interactive tool: input income, location, and family size to compute local 'affordable' housing options.
Problem
People evaluating moves or budget changes struggle to understand what housing is realistically affordable in different regions. Without tools to explore scenarios, relocation and budgeting decisions remain unclear. The 30% rent-to-income rule varies significantly by location, and factors like family size, local cost of living, and transportation costs make affordability calculations complex.
Overview
This interactive calculator computes affordable housing options based on income, family size, and location. It helps users explore "What if I moved here?" scenarios with clear affordability benchmarks. The tool accounts for regional variations in housing costs, local income levels, and family composition to provide realistic estimates.
How It Works (Approach)
The system takes user inputs (income, family size, desired location) and combines them with region-specific rent data from the American Community Survey, local cost-of-living indices, and housing market trends. It calculates affordable rent thresholds using standard affordability ratios (typically 30% of income) and adjusts for family size and local economic conditions. Results are displayed through a simple, intuitive interface with visualizations showing affordability ranges and comparable neighborhoods.
Impact / Value
Users gain personalized insights into housing affordability, supporting more informed relocation and budgeting decisions. The tool helps people make realistic assessments of where they can afford to live, reducing the risk of housing cost burden and supporting better financial planning. Families can explore multiple scenarios before committing to a move.
Key Features
- Income- and family-size–based affordability analysis
- Region-specific calculations
- Scenario exploration
- Simple interactive interface
- Integration with ACS and housing datasets