CT Insider | By: Alex Soule
Got $1,800 a month to spend on an apartment, and nothing tying you down to any one geographic location? That’s the magic number for the median household to afford an apartment — but it won’t get you into every corner of Connecticut in 2026, and in many instances it won’t get you much living space.
Just over 4,000 Connecticut apartments were available as of mid-April for $1,800 or less on Apartments.com, about the amount needed for the median household to afford rent and utilities without cutting too far into the budget.
But the available options go down sharply for those seeking multiple bedrooms and at least 900 square feet of space, which is approaching the tightest squeeze for a family of three. Apartments.com listed less than 900 options statewide at $1,800 a month in Connecticut.
With experts recommending housing costs be capped at 30% of disposable income, an $1,800 apartment would require take-home income of $72,000 annually to squeeze it into a budget. After federal and state income taxes, that’s within the range — barely — of what Connecticut’s estimated median household earnings of $96,000, if factoring in federal and state taxes according to a SmartAsset.com calculator.
“Renters who are paying above 30% of their income on rent or 50% even — those numbers really haven’t moved,” said Sean Ghio, policy director for the Partnership for Strong Communities which advocates for more affordable housing in Connecticut. “Are they the right apartments for folks in the sense of size, with bedrooms being the real driver; and are they where people need them?”