The Fact
In 2024, 20.7 million U.S. homeowner households spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs. That represented 24% of homeowner households.
What This Means
Housing-cost burden is not limited to renters or people trying to buy a home. Nearly one-quarter of existing homeowner households exceeded the conventional 30% housing-cost threshold in 2024.
Owning a home does not necessarily mean housing costs are low. Mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, association fees, and other ownership costs can continue to consume a substantial share of household income.
Sources
- Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2026 housing-affordability reporting using U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data.