Affordable Housing: The Data
What Determines Affordable Housing?
What determines affordability?
Area Median Income (AMI)
- Set by US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Varies by family size; differs by county
The AMI for Napa County in 2026 is $165,400 for a 4-person household.
Federal funds usually support projects that are housing people at a maximum of 80% of AMI
A significant percent of local households are cost burdened
HUD calculates Housing Cost Burden as a household paying more than 30% of their income on housing costs
- Includes rent and utilities for renters
- Includes mortgage, tax, insurance and utilities for homeowners
- 38% of householders in St. Helena are experiencing housing cost burden
- 16.1% of households spend the majority of their earnings on housing
