These Are the 23 Cities Where Millennials Can't Afford to Rent a Home

For young Americans, the smallest step toward independence has begun to seem hopelessly out of reach, even if that step is simply to move out of their parents’ home. In 23 of the largest 50 cities in the country, most rental homes are unaffordable for millennials, according to an analysis conducted for Bloomberg by real estate listing website Zillow. In those cities, which dot the country’s coasts and southern border, the majority of rental listings were too expensive for millennials who are looking to spend no more than 30 percent of household income on rent.

The gap between what young people earn and what they pay to rent is widest in Miami, where millennials are priced out of 92 percent of all rental listings. Such cities as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York draw young migrants who might expect to face high costs, and they are living up to their reputation as pricey metros: Less than 30 percent of rentals are affordable for young adults.