A New Home, Measured in Years of Household Income

In 1975, the median price of a new U.S. home was 3.3 years of median household income ($39,275 vs. $11,800). In 2025, it was 4.7 years ($415,400 vs. $87,460). Among these years, the highest was 5.2 years, in 2015.

Years of income = new home price divided by median household income in the same year. Both are in dollars of that year, so inflation cancels out. New homes only, not existing homes; new homes have grown larger over time. Income is before taxes. Mortgage rates are not included.