More renters struggling with monthly housing costs

A growing share of working-age renters are having difficulty keeping up with housing and utility costs, according to forthcoming analysis from Urban Institute researchers examining affordability trends from 2019 through 2025. The analysis draws on the Urban Institute’s nationally representative Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, which is conducted annually. Researchers examined the share of adults ages 18 to 64, including both renters and homeowners, who reported problems paying housing and utility costs. Findings show that renters experienced particularly notable increases in payment challenges during 2025. One in five working-age renters reported that they failed to pay the full amount of rent or were late with a payment at some point in 2025. That was up from 16.5% in 2024 and represented the highest share recorded since the survey began tracking the measure. “U.S. households are having more trouble paying for housing costs,” said Samantha Batko, one of the report’s co-authors. “These affordability challenges extend beyond the lowest income households, with middle-income renters in particular reporting a sharp increase in difficulty affording rent in 2025. Policymakers at all le...