CHAPTER VII.
THE RELATION BETWEEN COST OF HOUSING AND TOTAL INCOME.
"It must be made possible to live within one's income." The thrifty French rule is one fifth for rent.

In towns where land is cheap and wood abundant, or in college communities exempt from taxes, comfortable housing is found in this country for as little as fifteen or eighteen per cent of the total income.

In some mining towns where all prospects are uncertain and the house has no particular social significance the rent may be even lower, although it is often very high.
It depends on the demand, on competition rather than quality.

In our older and more settled communities it is most common for rent to use up one fourth the salary of all town dwellers with incomes within our limits.
This was true in Boston fifty years ago, and it is true to-day in dozens of cities and towns personally investigated.

It is not unknown that a teacher or business man should exceed this in the hope of a rise in salary by the second year.