Is the 30% Rule Unattainable in 2025? Typical U.S. Household Needs to Spend ~45% of Income to Afford the Median-priced Home
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA) released a comprehensive housing affordability report revealing that the typical U.S. household needs to spend 44.6% of their income to afford a median-priced home as of May 2025, significantly exceeding the recommended 30% threshold.
Only three major metros - Pittsburgh (27.4%), Detroit (29.8%), and St. Louis (30.0%) - remain affordable for median-income earners using a 20% down payment and May's average mortgage rate of 6.82%. In contrast, Los Angeles leads unaffordability, requiring 104.5% of median income for housing costs, followed by San Diego (77.1%) and San Jose (72.4%).
The report suggests that increasing affordable housing supply is crucial for improving affordability, as mortgage rates are expected to remain elevated and income growth alone may not solve the issue.
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA) ha pubblicato un rapporto dettagliato sull'accessibilità abitativa che evidenzia come la famiglia media negli Stati Uniti debba destinare il 44,6% del proprio reddito per permettersi una casa dal prezzo mediano a maggio 2025, superando di molto la soglia raccomandata del 30%.
Solo tre grandi aree metropolitane - Pittsburgh (27,4%), Detroit (29,8%) e St. Louis (30,0%) - risultano ancora accessibili per chi ha un reddito mediano, considerando un acconto del 20% e il tasso ipotecario medio di maggio pari al 6,82%. Al contrario, Los Angeles è la città meno accessibile, con costi abitativi che richiedono il 104,5% del reddito mediano, seguita da San Diego (77,1%) e San Jose (72,4%).
Il rapporto sottolinea che aumentare l'offerta di abitazioni accessibili è fondamentale per migliorare la situazione, dato che i tassi ipotecari si prevede rimarranno elevati e la sola crescita del reddito potrebbe non essere sufficiente a risolvere il problema.
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA) publicó un informe exhaustivo sobre la asequibilidad de la vivienda que revela que el hogar típico en EE.UU. necesita destinar el 44.6% de sus ingresos para poder comprar una casa con precio mediano a mayo de 2025, superando significativamente el umbral recomendado del 30%.
Solo tres grandes áreas metropolitanas - Pittsburgh (27.4%), Detroit (29.8%) y St. Louis (30.0%) - siguen siendo asequibles para quienes tienen ingresos medianos, considerando un pago inicial del 20% y la tasa hipotecaria promedio de mayo del 6.82%. En contraste, Los Ángeles lidera en inaccesibilidad, requiriendo el 104.5% del ingreso mediano para los costos de vivienda, seguida por San Diego (77.1%) y San José (72.4%).
El informe sugiere que aumentar la oferta de viviendas asequibles es crucial para mejorar la asequibilidad, ya que se espera que las tasas hipotecarias se mantengan elevadas y el crecimiento de ingresos por sí solo podría no resolver el problema.
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA)는 2025년 5월 기준으로 미국의 일반 가구가 중간 가격 주택을 구매하기 위해 소득의 44.6%를 지출해야 한다는 종합 주택 구매력 보고서를 발표했으며, 이는 권장 기준인 30%를 크게 초과하는 수치입니다.
중간 소득자들이 20%의 계약금을 내고 5월 평균 모기지 금리 6.82%를 적용했을 때, 세 개의 주요 대도시 - 피츠버그(27.4%), 디트로이트(29.8%), 세인트루이스(30.0%) - 만이 여전히 주택 구매가 가능합니다. 반면, 로스앤젤레스는 중간 소득의 104.5%가 주거비용에 필요해 가장 구매가 어려우며, 그 뒤를 샌디에이고(77.1%)와 산호세(72.4%)가 잇고 있습니다.
이 보고서는 모기지 금리가 높은 수준을 유지할 것으로 예상되며, 소득 증가만으로는 문제 해결이 어려워 주택 공급 확대가 주택 구매력 개선에 필수적이라고 제안합니다.
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA) a publié un rapport complet sur l'accessibilité au logement révélant que le foyer américain moyen doit consacrer 44,6% de ses revenus pour s'offrir une maison au prix médian en mai 2025, dépassant largement le seuil recommandé de 30%.
Seules trois grandes métropoles - Pittsburgh (27,4%), Detroit (29,8%) et St. Louis (30,0%) - restent abordables pour les ménages à revenu médian, en considérant un acompte de 20% et le taux hypothécaire moyen de mai à 6,82%. En revanche, Los Angeles est la ville la moins abordable, nécessitant 104,5% du revenu médian pour les coûts de logement, suivie de San Diego (77,1%) et San Jose (72,4%).
Le rapport suggère qu'augmenter l'offre de logements abordables est essentiel pour améliorer l'accessibilité, car les taux hypothécaires devraient rester élevés et la seule croissance des revenus pourrait ne pas suffire à résoudre le problème.
Realtor.com (NASDAQ:NWSA) veröffentlichte einen umfassenden Bericht zur Erschwinglichkeit von Wohnraum, der zeigt, dass ein typischer US-Haushalt im Mai 2025 44,6% seines Einkommens für ein Haus zum Medianpreis ausgeben muss, was die empfohlene Grenze von 30% deutlich übersteigt.
Nur drei große Metropolregionen - Pittsburgh (27,4%), Detroit (29,8%) und St. Louis (30,0%) - sind für Haushalte mit mittlerem Einkommen noch erschwinglich, wenn eine Anzahlung von 20% und der durchschnittliche Hypothekenzins von 6,82% im Mai zugrunde gelegt werden. Im Gegensatz dazu führt Los Angeles die Liste der Unerschwinglichkeit an, wo die Wohnkosten 104,5% des Medianeinkommens ausmachen, gefolgt von San Diego (77,1%) und San Jose (72,4%).
Der Bericht legt nahe, dass eine Erhöhung des Angebots an bezahlbarem Wohnraum entscheidend für die Verbesserung der Erschwinglichkeit ist, da die Hypothekenzinsen voraussichtlich hoch bleiben und alleiniges Einkommenswachstum das Problem nicht lösen wird.
- Three major metros (Pittsburgh, Detroit, St. Louis) still maintain housing affordability below 30% of median income
- Some markets have seen home price easing due to significant new construction activity over the last 5+ years
- Typical U.S. household needs 44.6% of income for median-priced homes, far above 30% recommendation
- Los Angeles requires 104.5% of median income for housing costs, making homeownership impossible for average earners
- 47 out of 50 largest metros exceed affordable housing threshold of 30%
- Mortgage rates remain high at 6.82% with uncertain future trajectory
Insights
Housing affordability crisis worsens as Americans need 44.6% of income for median homes, with only three affordable major metros remaining.
The latest Realtor.com data reveals a severe deterioration in housing affordability nationwide, with the typical American household now needing to allocate 44.6% of income to afford a median-priced home—significantly exceeding the recommended 30% threshold. This affordability crisis has reached alarming levels in coastal markets, with Los Angeles requiring an astonishing 104.5% of median income for housing costs.
Only three major metros—Pittsburgh (
The data reveals a stark geographical divide: Midwestern cities offer relative affordability while coastal markets have become mathematically impossible for median earners. San Diego (
These affordability metrics explain declining homeownership rates, particularly in Los Angeles where renters (
The persistent 6.82% mortgage rate combined with elevated home prices creates a perfect storm for affordability. The primary solution identified—increasing affordable housing supply—highlights a critical market failure. Markets with significant new construction have shown price moderation, while supply-constrained areas continue experiencing price pressure.
This sustained affordability crisis represents a fundamental shift in housing economics that will likely drive demographic changes, investment patterns, and housing policy debates in coming years. The data suggests we've reached a breaking point where traditional homeownership models are becoming unviable for average Americans in most major markets.
"Earnings have risen, but homebuying costs have risen faster, which means that adhering to affordability guidelines can feel challenging if not impossible in many housing markets across the country," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com®. "While a few Midwestern markets still offer a path to homeownership for the median-income household who can make a
Only Three Metros Pass the Affordability Test
Using a standard
Metro Area | May Median | Monthly with | Annual Mortgage | 2025 Median | Share of |
27.4 % | |||||
29.8 % | |||||
30.0 % |
These metros remain attractive to both buyers and investors due to their relatively low home prices, but sustained demand for low-priced homes threatens to erode affordability even in these strongholds.
"
The Coasts are Out of Reach
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the share of income required to afford a home in
Metro Area | May Median | Monthly with | Annual Mortgage | 2025 Median | Share of |
104.5 % | |||||
77.1 % | |||||
72.4 % | |||||
66.9 % | |||||
64.3 % |
That being said, perhaps, it doesn't come as a surprise that
What will Make America Affordable Again?
There are a couple pathways to making housing more affordable; raise incomes or lower housing costs. While higher wages could help, big pay increases that are widespread can also boost housing demand, pushing home costs higher. Lower housing costs can be achieved, either by bringing down mortgage rates or home prices. Mortgage rates are not expected to move significantly from where they currently sit and recent economic uncertainty makes it harder to predict the mortgage rate path. So what can be done?
Build more affordable homes. Home prices remain stubbornly high in markets that are in-demand but face a growing home supply gap. In contrast, home prices have eased in many markets that have seen significant new construction activity over the last 5+ years. New home supply and new home construction, especially at affordable price points, can help relieve price pressure in tight housing markets.
National & 50 Largest Metro Data (Alphabetical)
Geography | May Median | Monthly | 2025 Median | Share of |
44.6 % | ||||
38.2 % | ||||
41.0 % | ||||
33.6 % | ||||
33.5 % | ||||
64.3 % | ||||
33.7 % | ||||
44.1 % | ||||
35.0 % | ||||
35.4 % | ||||
32.0 % | ||||
38.7 % | ||||
39.6 % | ||||
44.9 % | ||||
29.8 % | ||||
38.9 % | ||||
39.6 % | ||||
37.8 % | ||||
33.2 % | ||||
39.5 % | ||||
40.9 % | ||||
53.5 % | ||||
104.5 % | ||||
36.0 % | ||||
41.8 % | ||||
54.9 % | ||||
43.0 % | ||||
36.8 % | ||||
51.5 % | ||||
66.9 % | ||||
36.9 % | ||||
45.9 % | ||||
34.8 % | ||||
47.8 % | ||||
27.4 % | ||||
51.5 % | ||||
55.7 % | ||||
37.2 % | ||||
42.1 % | ||||
55.7 % | ||||
54.5 % | ||||
37.1 % | ||||
77.1 % | ||||
59.8 % | ||||
72.4 % | ||||
56.3 % | ||||
30.0 % | ||||
45.7 % | ||||
46.8 % | ||||
41.3 % | ||||
41.2 % |
Methodology: Monthly payment assumes May 2025 average Freddie Mac mortgage rate (
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
Media Contact: Asees Singh, press@realtor.com
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SOURCE Realtor.com
FAQ
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