Flagstaff Housing Report: 56% of Renters Struggle with Affordability

Flagstaff Housing Costs Strain Residents, New Report Reveals

Flagstaff’s housing market is placing a significant financial burden on its residents, as revealed by a recent study from Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona. The report indicates that over one-third of the population in Flagstaff are struggling with housing costs.

To be classified as cost-burdened, individuals must spend at least 30% of their income on housing expenses. The report highlights that 56% of renters and 28% of homeowners in Flagstaff fall into this category, a statistic that has remained stable since 2023.

In examining the report, it becomes clear how different sectors are impacted by these costs. “A teacher — starting salary about $54,000 — what does that mean for an affordable rent? It’s $1,343 a month. Are there lots of places that you can rent for that price? Not really,” says Housing Solutions’ CEO Devonna McLaughlin.

McLaughlin further notes that living expenses for a four-member family in Flagstaff surpass those in Phoenix by $663 monthly. Additionally, the average price for homes in Flagstaff has surged from $230,000 in 2011 to $685,000 currently, marking a near 200% increase. In contrast, the median income has only risen by approximately 70% during the same period.

“You just start to realize that employment numbers and wages in our community, while they’ve been going up, still don’t have the same renting power or buying power,” McLaughlin points out.

The report stresses the necessity of prioritizing housing affordability, while also acknowledging the limited influence local authorities and nonprofit organizations have in this domain. “It reflects the fact that so much of that housing market is outside direct control of governments or nonprofits. So, some of the unaffordability for homeownership-piece comes from increasing interest rates, for example. That’s not something any of us here in Flagstaff really can control,” McLaughlin explains.