[chrisseaton]

Is that what the article is saying? Their reference to 'median' is saying that's what other people are reporting and they want to look at something else.

They don't seem to qualify it - they simply say 'there is not one U.S. state, metropolitan area, or county in which a minimum wage worker who clocks 40 hours a week can afford a two-bedroom apartment'. They don't use the term 'median' anywhere apart from talking about other articles. The report they link to talks about 'fair market rate' - not sure who decides what's fair and what isn't.

[jkingsbery]

Not "median," but they do use "average":

> In 2019, the affordability crisis has plunged to new depths. Last year, the average worker making the federal wage minimum of $7.25 per hour had to work 122 hours a week, every single week, to afford an average two-bedroom apartment.

The point being made earlier in the thread is the comparison is between the middle and the tail, not the tail earners and the tail quality 2-bed room apartment.

[throwaway98434]

Yes, it's what they're saying. They quote $377/mo as the maximum affordable rent for a minimum wage earner.

There are many counties across America where a low-end two bedroom can be found for substantially less than that $377. These claims only make sense if they refer to median prices.

For example:

https://joplin.craigslist.org/apa/d/joplin-2br-1bath-apartme...

https://seks.craigslist.org/apa/d/pittsburg-1913-elm-complex...

The claim 'there is not one U.S. state, metropolitan area, or county in which a minimum wage worker who clocks 40 hours a week can afford a two-bedroom apartment' is simply incorrect.

[chrisseaton]

But what makes you think they're using the median instead?