# Affordable housing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084 "2002-10-06T18:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guybud5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Guybud5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guybud5)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084/1 "2002-10-06T18:20:26Z")
I just moved to Pacific Grove California, in the monterey Peninsula. There is something that is puzzling my mind. HOW DOES ANYONE AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE AROUND HERE? Granted, I have military allowances that are adjusted to the outrageous rent here, but seriously, my 2 bedroom apartment is 1250 a month!!! According to the Pac Grove website, affordable housing can be found in the Salinas valley in the mid 250’s range (Affordable??!!!). Is the average income really that much higher than elsewhere. Back home in Tallahassee FL, a nice house can be bought for 100,000, in a nice neighborhood. How does anyone afford a 500,000 house here? It seems to be a mostly tourist centered area. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084/2 "2002-10-06T22:21:55Z")
Oh, its easy when you know how & know where to look. Where are you getting those prices? I know you can get a 2 bedroom in Monterey for $900.00, I saw a 2 bedroom apt in PG the other day, nice, for $1125.00. There were also some on Park Street, Two bedrooms for $750 or so (probably more today)… Sometimes you can find listings @ MPC for great prices too. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084/3 "2002-10-07T00:57:18Z")
Housing prices are outrageous on the East Coast as well. A fixer upper in Arlington costs at least $300,000.00. Rentals aren’t much better. I’m so glad I bought my condo when prices weren’t so outrageous. ---
**Author:** ![ghandi5569](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@ghandi5569](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghandi5569)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084/4 "2002-10-07T01:18:19Z")
Where I live, the closer you get to a city, the more expensive the rent. I live in Mercersburg, PA. About a 30 minute drive from Hagerstown, MD. About 1 hour from Frederick. About 2 hours from DC. I pay $200 for my apartment–a one bedroom. However, the same apartment in Hagerstown (1/2 hour from Frederick, 1 1/2 hours from DC) would cost about $500. Same apartment in Frederick (1 hour from DC) would be about $800. Same apartment in DC would be about $1000-$1500. Depending on the neighborhood and if I wanted to get shot for walking to my car. Since I work in Hagerstown, have relatives in Frederick, and go to DC to play, I’ll take the rent break and commute. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affordable-housing/131084/5 "2002-10-07T15:42:42Z")
Guy, you can check the message board at [pacificgrove.com](http://pacificgrove.com) where Im putting in some housing stats every now & then for the curious.