Most NYC renters are struggling to afford housing, and maps show where it's worst.

More than half of New York City's renters are rent-burdened and nearly 30% pay over half their income on housing, with the highest concentrations of cost burden found in many outer-borough neighborhoods.

Rising housing costs are leaving a large share of New Yorkers rent-burdened. Recent analysis of Census data and city statistics shows most neighborhoods have substantial populations paying a high portion of income on housing. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed measures including a rent freeze for many stabilized units and expedited housing development on city land. Debate continues among housing advocates, developers, and landlords about how to increase supply and fund construction. Key facts: - Analysis of the 2019–2023 American Community Survey finds more than half of NYC tenants are rent-burdened and nearly 30% of renters pay over half their income on housing. - Between 2011 and 2023 the city added about 350,000 homes while gaining roughly 895,000 jobs, and the housing vacancy rate fell to about 1.4% in 2023. - Mayor Mamdani has proposed freezing rents on nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments and pledged to build 200,000 permanently affordable units over ten years; some of those proposals would require state approval. - The city enacted zoning reforms called "City of Yes" in late 2024 aimed at enabling new housing (estimated at roughly 80,000 homes over 15 years), and stakeholders say far more units are needed to affect prices. Summary: Housing costs are widespread across New York City and concentrated in many outer-borough neighborhoods, leaving a majority of renters cost-burdened. Officials have proposed measures including a rent freeze and large construction targets, but implementation details and required approvals remain undetermined at this time.