Housing costs push Americans toward smaller families
An NPR report (Sept. 25, 2025) documents how sharply higher U.S. home prices and rising mortgage rates are leading some Americans to limit family size. Using National Association of Realtors pricing data and firsthand examples (a New Jersey couple who bought a larger home with a mortgage payment now near $5,000), the piece ties housing affordability, childcare costs and locked‑in low‑rate homeowners to decisions to have fewer children.
Economy
Demographics
📰 Sources (1)
Housing prices are causing some people to have smaller families than planned
New information:
- National Association of Realtors: U.S. housing prices up 56% since February 2020.
- Example household: family moved from Asbury Park, N.J. to Collingswood, S.J.; mortgage rate rose from 3% to 7.25%, monthly payment now nearly $5,000; outlay ~ $100,000 more than expected.
- Consequence: parents report choosing to have one child instead of a second because combined mortgage and daycare costs are unaffordable.