Purpose

The HAW Framework provides a consistent benchmark for estimating the hourly wage required to afford median one-bedroom rental housing. It is designed for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and members of the public who need a clear and reproducible comparison across geographies.

What it is—and is not

HAW is a measurement framework, not a prescribed wage policy. It does not model taxes, household composition, vacancy, or non-housing expenses in the core calculation.