### U.S. Households Face Higher Cost Burdens Today Compared to a Decade Ago
Housing affordability remains a significant challenge across the United States. A recent report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and research partner RCLCO, the **2025 Terwilliger Center for Housing Home Attainability Index**, underscores the increasing difficulty in securing affordable housing.
#### Persistent Challenges in Housing Affordability
According to *Urban Land Magazine*, the findings highlight ongoing challenges in meeting America’s housing needs. Rosemarie Hepner, Vice President of ULI’s Terwilliger Center for Housing, emphasized that *”when the housing supply fails to keep pace with population growth, the consequences spill over into economic challenges—limiting job growth and industry expansion in many regions.”*
### Key Takeaways from the Report
#### **Increasing Cost Burdens**
Households earning less than $50,000 in nearly every major U.S. market are **more cost-burdened today than they were ten years ago**. The affordability crisis continues to worsen, necessitating coordinated efforts at all levels of government to increase housing stock and reverse this trend.
#### **Variance in Housing Attainability**
While home prices and rents are **dramatically rising in some markets**, they are stabilizing in others. The report notes that **households in the Rust Belt earning 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) have better access to homeownership**, while affordability remains a greater challenge in the western U.S.
#### **Shift Toward Suburban Development**
As many established urban markets reach capacity, **housing development is expanding into first-ring suburbs**. Builders are focusing on areas where land is more affordable and development costs can be reduced.
#### **Rising Commute Times**
Markets that once had relatively **short commute times are now experiencing increased traffic and longer drives**. To combat congestion, major cities are implementing measures such as pricing laws, bike lanes, curb expansions, and subsidized transit programs to promote alternative transportation methods.
With housing affordability concerns continuing to grow nationwide, policymakers and industry leaders must take coordinated action to address these challenges and ensure stable housing options for more American households.
