How High Housing Costs Led to 13 Million Fewer Births

A new University of Toronto study reveals a staggering statistic: 13 million fewer U.S. births over the last 30 years are tied directly to rising housing costs. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how affordability challenges are reshaping family decisions—and America’s demographic future.In this episode you’ll learn:The core finding: Housing costs explain over half of the decline in U.S. fertility from 1990–2020.The affordability squeeze: Rents rose 149%, far outpacing overall inflation at 103%.Family planning impact: High housing costs especially deter larger families, turning 3-child plans into 1 or 2.National consequences: With fertility at 1.6, below the 2.1 replacement rate, the U.S. faces long-term workforce and economic challenges.Why supply matters: America is short 4.7 million homes, pushing families toward delayed (or forgone) parenthood.Read the full article:https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/high-housing-costs-linked-to-13-million-fewer-babies-us/