The Affordability Delta

An interactive visualization mapping the gap between actual US renter incomes and the reality of the rental market across 33,000+ US ZIP codes.

Live Map Here

The Math

This map highlights the difference between what renters should be paying (the 30% Rule) and what they are paying. Delta = (Median Renter Income / 12 * 0.30) - Median Gross Rent

• Blue: Rent is below the 30% threshold (Affordable)
• Red: Rent is above the 30% threshold (Unaffordable)

Data Sources

• Incomes & Rent: US Census Bureau API (2022 ACS 5-Year Estimates)
• Map Boundaries: US Census Bureau Cartographic Boundary Files (2020 ZCTAs)

How to Run Locally

1. Clone the repository.
2. Install dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
3. Fetch the data: python fetch_data.py
4. Build the map: python build_map.py
5. Open index.html in your web browser.