Income to buy a median-priced home nearly doubles since 2020

A Harvard housing study finds that the income required to afford a median-priced home has surged to about $120,000, more than double the 2020 level, as median prices exceed $400,000 and mortgage rates stay above 6%. The result is weakened demand, rising existing-home prices (up roughly 54% since 2020) relative to income, and a broader affordability squeeze that has kept home sales near multi-decade lows despite shifts in construction and rental trends.