How long does it take teachers to afford an average home in their district?

In recent months, teacher pay and cost of living have made headlines pointing to the grim reality they face as continued research exposes just how difficult it is for educators to keep up with inflation. Now, we’re coming to find out that many teachers are forced to live further away from their schools with little chance of affording homes within their school districts.

The National Council on Teacher Quality released this month’s “District Trendline” analyzing teacher salaries, cost of rent and average home prices to answer the following question: “Can teachers afford to live where they teach?” And the short answer is, well, it depends.

As teacher shortages persist, district leaders are turning to creative solutions to attract and retain staff. One tactic that’s been used quite frequently by districts is helping teachers find affordable housing.

At Holland Public Schools in Michigan, Superintendent Nick Cassidy recently shared with District Administration information bout its “Teachers Live Here” program which launched in January. The grant provides teachers with $25,000 in down payment assistance as long as they commit to at least five years of teaching with the district where property values are “very expensive,” he said.

In districts where this isn’t an option, teachers are forced to either live outside of the district or save up for decades. For new teachers, renting a one-bedroom home is likely the most viable option. But can they afford it?

In this month’s “District Trendline” analysis, the organization broke down some of the least and most affordable school districts for new teachers renting a one-bedroom home. Here’s a look at the data:

Most affordable districts for new teachers to rent a “1BR home”

1. Wichita Public Schools, KS: Rent equates to 17% of salary.
2. Jefferson Parish Public School System, LA: Rent equates to 17% of salary.
3. Laramie County School District 1, WY: Rent equates to 17% of salary.
4. Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH: Rent equates to 18% of salary.
5. Bismark Public Schools, ND: Rent equates to 18% of salary.

Least affordable districts for new teachers to rent a “1BR home”

1. San Francisco Unified School District, CA: Rent equates to 47% of salary.
2. Portland Public Schools, OR: Rent equates to 42% of salary.
3. San Diego Unified School District, CA: Rent equates to 41% of salary.
4. Hawaii Department of Education, HI: Rent equates to 41% of salary.
5. New York City Department of Education, NY: Rent equates to 40% of salary.

As the data suggests, to afford to live in some of the more expensive districts would require teachers to save up for years. But for some, “it is an ordeal.”

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“It takes a little over four years for the average household in the U.S. to save for a 20% down payment for a home,” the analysis reads. “In the largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with a single teacher income, it would take 13.6 years for this teacher to save up 10% of their income each year to make a 20% down payment on a median home in their locality.”

With this in mind, here’s a look at how districts vary on how long it takes for teachers to afford a 20% down payment of a ‘”median home.”

Where teachers can afford to buy a home soonest

1. Kanawha County Schools, WV: It takes seven years to save for a 20% down payment.
2. Jackson Public Schools, MS: It takes eight years to save for a 20% downpayment.
3. Pittsburgh Public Schools, PA: It takes eight years to save for a 20% downpayment.
4. Detroit Public Schools, MI: It takes eight years to save for a 20% downpayment.
5. Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH: It takes eight years to save for a 20% downpayment.

Where it takes teachers the longest to buy a home

1. San Francisco Unified School District, CA: It takes 30 years to save for a 20% downpayment.
2. Los Angeles Unified School District, CA: It takes 29 years to save for a 20% downpayment.
3. Hawaii Department of Education, HI: It takes 28 years to save for a 20% downpayment.
4. San Diego Unified School District, CA: It takes 25 years to save for a 20% downpayment.
5. Portland Public Schools, OR: It takes 22 years to save for a 20% downpayment.

“As the nation turns its attention to raising teacher pay, states and districts may want to consider how to increase salaries or provide other incentives, so teachers can keep pace with increases in the cost of living, in particular with a focus on the coastal metropolitan areas where housing affordability issues have persisted over the years,” the analysis concludes.