Methodology
Data: 2026-Q2 · BLS · HUD · KFFHow the signals are built, and what they can and can't tell you.
Breathing Room
Breathing room is a four-zone signal — Tight, Getting By, Comfortable, Spacious — describing how much financial slack an income leaves after housing in a given city. It's derived from the relationship between take-home pay and HUD Fair Market Rents, adjusted for housing situation. It is qualitative, not a precise budget figure.
Housing Pressure
Housing pressure (Low, Moderate, High, Very High) reflects how much of typical take-home pay the local median rent would consume at a given income band. It uses HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents and BLS wage benchmarks.
Savings Pace
Savings pace (Building Foundation, Finding Rhythm, Gaining Traction, Strong Momentum) is a qualitative signal of how readily an income supports saving in a city, varying by age bracket and saving stance. It draws on BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey patterns — not an individual calculation.
Tax Calculations
Take-home estimates apply 2025 IRS federal brackets, the standard deduction, FICA (7.65%) or self-employment tax (15.3%) for gig work, and Tax Foundation 2025 state income tax rates. These are estimates for comparison, not tax filings.
What this tool is not
- It is not a budget planner — it describes patterns, not your personal finances.
- It is not financial, tax, or legal advice.
- It does not predict the future or recommend decisions.
- It does not capture your full situation — income is one dimension among many.
Data freshness
Last updated 2026-Q2. Refreshed quarterly.
| Category | Source |
|---|---|
| housing | HUD FY2026 FMR |
| wages | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
| healthcare | KFF 2025 |
| childcare | EPI March 2025 |
| taxes | IRS 2025 |
| inflation | BLS CPI April 2026 |
| studentDebt | DOE December 2025 |
| carOwnership | AAA 2025 |
| homePrices | NAR Q4 2025 |