I previously summarized the Center for Housing Policy’s Paycheck to Paycheck report which reviewed housing affordability across 200 markets, with 1 being the most expensive and 200 being the least expensive.  My original post can be found here.  

The Center for Housing Policy collected data points from the National Homebuilders Association, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Salary.com

Below summarizes Boise, Idaho specific data:

• Homeownership 3Q 2011 Median Price:  $148,000 (Metro Ranking of 104).  This places Boise in the middle of the data points of most to least expensive homeownership markets.  This includes new and existing sales.
• Homeownership Affordability Index:  24 (Metro Ranking of 93).  This means 24 out of 74 occupations(or just 32%) earn enough to afford a median priced home as of 3Q 2011.
• Rents of a 2 Bedroom Apartment 3Q 2011 Median Rent:  $702 (Metro Ranking of 164).
• Rental Affordability Index:  52 (Metro Ranking of 154).  This means 52 out of 74 occupations (or 70%) earn enough to afford a 2 Bedroom apartment in Boise.
• Qualifying Income needed to purchase a Median Priced Home:  $42,698 (Metro Ranking of 172).  In 4Q 2009 a similar study was done.  At that time the median priced home was $163,000, and the qualifying income was $48,657.  There has been a -12.25% decrease in qualifying income.

Here are a couple of additional graphics that I was able to extract from the website.

This Chart compares the income of seasonal retail jobs to the annual income needed to purchase a median priced home:

This Chart compares the income of five pre-selected occupations (out of a list of 74) to the annual income needed to purchase a median priced home:

One other tool that I haven’t shown allows you to select an occupation, and compare the median salary across three markets.  The report provides median home price, income needed to purchase a home, and the median salary for the occupation across all three markets.  The site can be found here.