Finance
When a Paycheck Could Actually Buy You a Home: The Collapse of American Housing Affordability
In 1975, the median American home cost around $39,000 — and a single income could realistically cover the mortgage. Today, that same home's equivalent sits well north of $400,000, and two incomes often aren't enough. This isn't just inflation doing its thing. Something more fundamental broke along the way.
Mar 13, 2026