{
  "reportKey": "2026-08",
  "reportMonth": "August 2026",
  "generated_at": "2026-10-02T21:27:32.202Z",
  "sorted_by": "median household renter margin",
  "note": "Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables.",
  "national_headlines": [
    {
      "group": "adult1",
      "label": "One adult",
      "margin_renter": -2475,
      "fmt": "-$2,475"
    },
    {
      "group": "adult2",
      "label": "Two adults",
      "margin_renter": -1964,
      "fmt": "-$1,964"
    },
    {
      "group": "median",
      "label": "Median household",
      "margin_renter": -959,
      "fmt": "-$959"
    },
    {
      "group": "senior1",
      "label": "Senior 65+",
      "margin_renter": -529,
      "fmt": "-$529"
    },
    {
      "group": "senior2",
      "label": "Senior couple 65+",
      "margin_renter": -474,
      "fmt": "-$474"
    },
    {
      "group": "ss1",
      "label": "Social Security",
      "margin_renter": -2936,
      "fmt": "-$2,936"
    },
    {
      "group": "ss2",
      "label": "Two Social Security",
      "margin_renter": -3842,
      "fmt": "-$3,842"
    }
  ],
  "largest_deficits": [
    {
      "code": "NY-15",
      "rank": 435,
      "margin_renter": -3879,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$3,879",
      "net": 3168,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-15/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · NY-15: median household renter margin -$3,879. Published rank 435 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-15/",
      "social_caption": "NY-15 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$3,879. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-15/"
    },
    {
      "code": "NY-13",
      "rank": 434,
      "margin_renter": -3798,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$3,798",
      "net": 3574,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-13/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · NY-13: median household renter margin -$3,798. Published rank 434 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-13/",
      "social_caption": "NY-13 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$3,798. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-13/"
    },
    {
      "code": "NY-8",
      "rank": 433,
      "margin_renter": -3207,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$3,207",
      "net": 4354,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-8/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · NY-8: median household renter margin -$3,207. Published rank 433 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-8/",
      "social_caption": "NY-8 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$3,207. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-8/"
    },
    {
      "code": "NY-14",
      "rank": 429,
      "margin_renter": -2824,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,824",
      "net": 4437,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-14/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · NY-14: median household renter margin -$2,824. Published rank 429 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-14/",
      "social_caption": "NY-14 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,824. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-14/"
    },
    {
      "code": "FL-24",
      "rank": 428,
      "margin_renter": -2749,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,749",
      "net": 4526,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/FL-24/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · FL-24: median household renter margin -$2,749. Published rank 428 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/FL-24/",
      "social_caption": "FL-24 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,749. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/FL-24/"
    },
    {
      "code": "NY-7",
      "rank": 414,
      "margin_renter": -2735,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,735",
      "net": 5573,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-7/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · NY-7: median household renter margin -$2,735. Published rank 414 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-7/",
      "social_caption": "NY-7 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,735. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/NY-7/"
    },
    {
      "code": "WV-1",
      "rank": 430,
      "margin_renter": -2695,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,695",
      "net": 3742,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WV-1/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · WV-1: median household renter margin -$2,695. Published rank 430 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WV-1/",
      "social_caption": "WV-1 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,695. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WV-1/"
    },
    {
      "code": "MS-2",
      "rank": 427,
      "margin_renter": -2672,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,672",
      "net": 3075,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MS-2/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · MS-2: median household renter margin -$2,672. Published rank 427 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MS-2/",
      "social_caption": "MS-2 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,672. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MS-2/"
    },
    {
      "code": "CA-34",
      "rank": 432,
      "margin_renter": -2654,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,654",
      "net": 4233,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-34/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · CA-34: median household renter margin -$2,654. Published rank 432 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-34/",
      "social_caption": "CA-34 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,654. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-34/"
    },
    {
      "code": "CA-37",
      "rank": 431,
      "margin_renter": -2566,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "-$2,566",
      "net": 4640,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-37/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · CA-37: median household renter margin -$2,566. Published rank 431 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-37/",
      "social_caption": "CA-37 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin -$2,566. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-37/"
    }
  ],
  "largest_surpluses": [
    {
      "code": "VA-10",
      "rank": 1,
      "margin_renter": 2870,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$2,870",
      "net": 9476,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-10/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · VA-10: median household renter margin +$2,870. Published rank 1 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-10/",
      "social_caption": "VA-10 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$2,870. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-10/"
    },
    {
      "code": "VA-11",
      "rank": 2,
      "margin_renter": 2849,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$2,849",
      "net": 9405,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-11/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · VA-11: median household renter margin +$2,849. Published rank 2 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-11/",
      "social_caption": "VA-11 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$2,849. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/VA-11/"
    },
    {
      "code": "MD-8",
      "rank": 4,
      "margin_renter": 2040,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$2,040",
      "net": 8294,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-8/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · MD-8: median household renter margin +$2,040. Published rank 4 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-8/",
      "social_caption": "MD-8 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$2,040. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-8/"
    },
    {
      "code": "CA-17",
      "rank": 3,
      "margin_renter": 1974,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,974",
      "net": 10238,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-17/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · CA-17: median household renter margin +$1,974. Published rank 3 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-17/",
      "social_caption": "CA-17 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,974. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/CA-17/"
    },
    {
      "code": "TX-3",
      "rank": 6,
      "margin_renter": 1847,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,847",
      "net": 7883,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-3/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · TX-3: median household renter margin +$1,847. Published rank 6 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-3/",
      "social_caption": "TX-3 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,847. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-3/"
    },
    {
      "code": "MD-3",
      "rank": 5,
      "margin_renter": 1704,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,704",
      "net": 8015,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-3/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · MD-3: median household renter margin +$1,704. Published rank 5 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-3/",
      "social_caption": "MD-3 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,704. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/MD-3/"
    },
    {
      "code": "WA-1",
      "rank": 7,
      "margin_renter": 1624,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,624",
      "net": 8617,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-1/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · WA-1: median household renter margin +$1,624. Published rank 7 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-1/",
      "social_caption": "WA-1 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,624. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-1/"
    },
    {
      "code": "WA-7",
      "rank": 15,
      "margin_renter": 1595,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,595",
      "net": 8067,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-7/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · WA-7: median household renter margin +$1,595. Published rank 15 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-7/",
      "social_caption": "WA-7 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,595. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/WA-7/"
    },
    {
      "code": "TX-26",
      "rank": 11,
      "margin_renter": 1591,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,591",
      "net": 7589,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-26/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · TX-26: median household renter margin +$1,591. Published rank 11 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-26/",
      "social_caption": "TX-26 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,591. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-26/"
    },
    {
      "code": "TX-24",
      "rank": 14,
      "margin_renter": 1551,
      "margin_renter_fmt": "+$1,551",
      "net": 7534,
      "url": "https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-24/",
      "blurb": "August 2026 TrueCOLA · TX-24: median household renter margin +$1,551. Published rank 14 of 435. Published district rank uses the average of renter and blended-owner margins (rank 1 is best). The same rank is shown on one-person and two-person tables. Full table: https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-24/",
      "social_caption": "TX-24 cost-of-living reality check (August 2026): median household renter margin +$1,551. Data: TrueCOLA Project https://www.truecola.org/reports/2026-08/districts/TX-24/"
    }
  ],
  "how_to_use": "Copy a blurb or social caption for local press. Always attribute TrueCOLA Project (truecola.org). Numbers come only from the published monthly dataset. Through November 2026, extracts name districts only; they do not name members or attach a member to a deficit superlative. A packaged AI Companion is available by request at https://www.truecola.org/report/. Verify published files at https://www.truecola.org/verify/."
}