11 states where you don't have to spend more than 30% of your income on housing
Indianapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines. Getty Images Realtor.com ranked the 11 states where you can avoid spending more than 30% of your income on housing. The 30% rule is used as a benchmark to help households avoid becoming "house poor." The states are mostly located in the US's interior, including Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana. Most of us have heard the golden rule of housing: Don't spend more than 30% of your income on housing. Known as the 30% rule, it's a benchmark financial experts often cite to help households avoid becoming "house poor" — meaning you have little savings left after paying monthly housing costs. Unfortunately, for many Americans, that standard works better in theory than in practice. Realtor.com data shows that in most states, households earning the median income cannot comfortably afford a median-priced home without stretching their budgets too thin. It's a reality shaped by the same persistent strains on housing affordability: hi...