Shelter Spending
How much American households spend on shelter — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Shelter
American households spent an average of $16,317 on shelter in 2024, representing 20.8% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 5.3% increase from 2023 ($15,499), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, shelter spending has risen by 29.5% (from $12,604 to $16,317), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 3 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of shelter spending: the top income quintile spends $27,338/year versus $9,178 for the lowest quintile — a 3.0x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($21,032/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($13,657/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,317 |
| 2023 | $15,499 |
| 2022 | $14,507 |
| 2021 | $13,258 |
| 2020 | $12,604 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Owned dwellings | $9,310 |
| Rented dwellings | $5,660 |
| Other lodging | $1,347 |
By Income Level (2024)
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $9,178 |
| Second 20% | $11,902 |
| Middle 20% | $15,257 |
| Fourth 20% | $17,851 |
| Highest 20% | $27,338 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in shelter spending
By Age Group (2024)
How shelter spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $12,954 |
| 2 People | $17,763 |
| 3 People | $16,459 |
| 4 People | $17,555 |
| 5 or More | $20,634 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $16,206 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $21,056 |
| Renter | $9,807 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on shelter? ▼
Is shelter spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect shelter spending? ▼
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Spending Guides
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Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
