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DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS <br /> lower living expenses and can often sell their homes and use the proceeds toward rent <br /> payments. <br /> A generally accepted standard for affordable owner-occupied housing is that a typical <br /> household can afford to pay 3.0 to 3.5 times their annual income on a single-family home. <br /> Thus, a $50,000 income would translate to an affordable single-family home of$150,000 to <br /> $175,000. The higher end of this range assumes that the person has adequate funds for down <br /> payment and closing costs, but does not have savings or equity in an existing home which <br /> would allow them to purchase a higher priced home. The following are key points: <br /> • The median household income in Elk River in 2012 was estimated to be about $82,040. <br /> Overall, incomes are expected to increase by about 22% between 2012 and 2017, or about <br /> 4.5% annually. This will result in the median income in the Elk River Elk River increasing <br /> from $80,043 in 2012 to about $100,430 in 2017. <br /> • Between 2012 and 2017, the number of households will increase in all but two age groups <br /> in Elk River. The largest numerical gain will be in the 55 to 64 age group, with a projected <br /> increase of 277 households. <br /> Non-Senior Households <br /> • In 2012, roughly 2% of the non-senior households in Elk River had incomes under $15,000 <br /> (128 households). All of these households would be eligible for subsidized rental housing. <br /> Another 5% of Elk River's non-senior households had incomes between $15,000 and <br /> $25,000 (279 households). Many of these households would qualify for subsidized housing, <br /> but many could also afford "affordable" or older market-rate rentals. If housing costs <br /> absorb 30% of income, households with incomes of$15,000 to $25,000 could afford to pay <br /> $375 to $625 per month. Average monthly rents for one-bedroom units in Elk River are <br /> about $743 (shown in Table R-1 in the Rental Housing Analysis section). <br /> • Median incomes for households in Elk River peak at $102,432 for the 45 to 54 age group in <br /> 2012. Households in this age group are in their peak earning years. The majority of <br /> households (87%) in this age group are homeowners. By 2017, the median income for the <br /> 45 to 54 age group is projected to increase to $107,653, a 5% increase. <br /> • The median resale price of homes in Elk River was roughly $150,000 through May 2012 (see <br /> Table FS-1). The income required to afford a home at this price would be about $42,875 to <br /> $50,000, based on the standard of 3.0 to 3.5 times the median income (and assuming these <br /> households do not have a high level of debt). In 2012, 71% (5,765 households) of Elk River's <br /> non-senior households had incomes greater than $42,875. <br /> MAXFIELD RESEARCH INC. 14 <br />