https://dqydj.com/historical-homeownership-rate-united-states/
Posted on 02/03/2026 3:38:26 AM PST by Mount Athos
The first comment of this thread will display this chart. For discussion.
You’re right about the top tax rate being very high back in those days (1950).
But what about combined federal, state, and local taxes for the average Joe?
Cowinkadink
1990 free trade agreement
1980’s, the rush to send manufacturing to mexico and china
https://dqydj.com/historical-homeownership-rate-united-states/
Importing illegals to reduce wages paid as well.
No surprise whatsoever that it dramatically went down during the reign of Bill and Satans daughter Hillary F. Clinton and continued during Husseins.
Not sure if taxes were really higher back then. I do know that write-offs and deductions were prevalent, families could be sustained with a single household breadwinner, the ratio of private to public sector employment was higher and America was the world’s powerhouse.
Part of it’s economics but the biggest factor is too many 30 year olds have no drive, ambition, or desire to own a home or raise a family.
You’re right about the top tax rate being very high back in those days (1950).
But what about combined federal, state, and local taxes for the average Joe?
It appears, for the average family, federal taxes have gone done and local and state taxes have gone up, as percentages of income.
Of course, people tend to have more income as they are older, so taxes tend to go up as you age and move into higher tax brackets.
gone done should be gone down
The rise of feminism and divorce rates seem to coincide with parts of this graph.
Couples paired up earlier in the past especially after wwii. So of course the got their own homes earlier.
“That’s the American Dream disappearing right there.”
Many will infer or believe that this is totally the fault of government.
I think it reflects poor work ethics and bad decisions by kids who were coddled by parents, participation trophies in competitions, and abysmal education in public schools.
It would be interesting to add a data point in this study to include how many of these married homeowners were home schooled.
See my #32. GMTA.
While it was true that top tax rates were 80-90%, deductions lowered individuals’ and couples’ rates significantly.
You could deduct medical expenses in their entirety, mortgage interest, all sorts of things. You could even deduct a portion for home tools you would buy.
Itemizing is less and less important now so the tax advantages for home ownership have been lessened significantly. Being married also has a flat or even negative advantage.
There are many reasons stated above, which are all true. But government tax policy has also been a deterrent to marriage and home ownership.
Bought my first house in 1974 at 19. I got married the year before at 18 right out of highschool. Brand new 2 bedroom ranch on 2 acres for $24,000.00 bought through FHA with an initial $84.00 monthly payment.
Still married, been through 2 other houses since then and living the dream in our retirement dream home in the mountains that’s fully paid for. It’s called hard work and determination.
The American dream is what you make it.
Those rates appear high, but keep in mind that deduction potential was huge then.
The reality of todays economies require one to be mobile and move to where to find the work. People don’t stay in one place for 40 years anymore...its the transitory nature of our economy. Renting become an affordable alternative.
Good points. Homes are also much more expensive now because of zoning and construction codes.
The house I grew up in, constructed in the 1930’s would be considered little more than a shack.
Indoor plumbing and electricity were added in the 1950s. Almost no insulation (in northern Wisconsin), drafty windows, We made it better over time. By the 1970’s, it was more comfortable, but still a glorified shack by today’s standards.
Bush I is where it really starts declining.
That seems to be the perfect inverse graph to the rise of toxic feminism.
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