California's Teacher Housing Crunch

Many teachers at the bottom of the pay scale are getting shut out of housing they can afford. Even teachers earning average or the highest salaries face struggles paying the rent, especially in the high-cost coastal and metro areas. An EdSource analysis of teacher salaries and rents reveals just how crushing California’s housing crisis has become for many teachers. They are coping by sharing homes with others, making do with less space, and, as occurred this year in Los Angeles and Oakland, by striking for high salaries. But, as some teachers have found, even a hefty raise won’t help them find housing they can afford.

April 27, 2019

Statewide survey: most Californians support teacher strikes for higher pay

Public Policy Institute asked about some of the most hotly debated issues in its annual Californians and Education statewide survey.

Diana Lambert

April 17, 2019

Rising rents in coastal California outpace teacher pay

Many, especially first-year teachers, are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent, exceeding the federal cutoff for affordable housing.

Diana Lambert And Daniel J. Willis

April 17, 2019

In need of teacher housing, more California school districts building their own

A number of school districts, especially in high-cost regions of the state, are constructing apartment complexes to help attract and retain teachers.

Diana Lambert And Daniel J. Willis

April 17, 2019

How much housing can California teachers afford?

View teacher salaries and housing affordability for every district in California that reported salary data using EdSource's interactive web app.

Yuxuan Xie, Daniel J. Willis, And Justin Allen

April 17, 2019

Interactive Map: Where teachers find affordable housing in California

Teachers in the most populated areas of California face formidable odds when it comes to securing housing throughout their careers. Explore three interactive maps that show the housing challenges California teachers face.

Justin Allen And Daniel J. Willis

April 17, 2019

California teachers share their stories

California teachers struggle to pay the rent as rising costs outpace their pay. The divide is sharpest for starting teachers in coastal regions like the Bay Area. Here are some of their stories.