New data from the National Association of Realtors shows that the income needed to afford the median US home has reached $120,000 — more than double the median household income of $56,000.
The Gap
- Income needed for median home: $120,000
- Median household income: $56,000
- Gap: $64,000 (widest in recorded history)
- Only 25% of households can afford the median home
The crisis is driving a generational shift in homeownership expectations. Adults under 35 now have a 37% homeownership rate, down from 42% a decade ago. Policy experts say addressing housing requires both supply-side (building more) and demand-side (affordability programs) solutions.
