Analysis
In-depth, data-driven research on America's housing crisis. Every article is grounded in public data from the Census Bureau, HUD, HMDA, Zillow, and other authoritative sources.
America's 20 Most Unaffordable Metros: The Price-to-Income Crisis
We ranked every U.S. metro by price-to-income ratio. From Maui to Merced, here are the 20 places where homeownership is most out of reach.
March 28, 2026
Where Rents Are Rising Fastest — and Where They're Falling
A data-driven look at year-over-year rent changes across 373 U.S. metros, from Abilene's 34% spike to Cape Coral's decline.
March 27, 2026
Homelessness by State: 771,000 Americans and Counting
A deep dive into HUD Point-in-Time count data reveals where homelessness is worst, which states saw the biggest surges, and how it connects to housing costs.
March 26, 2026
The FMR Gap: When 'Fair Market Rent' Isn't Fair at All
HUD's Fair Market Rents are supposed to reflect actual rental costs. In many metros, they fall hundreds of dollars short — leaving voucher holders unable to find housing.
March 25, 2026
Building Boom or Bust: Which Metros Are Building Enough Housing?
We compare building permits per capita across 373 metros to find who's building their way to affordability — and who's falling behind.
March 24, 2026
Homeownership Rate by State: From Delaware's 74% to DC's 39%
A state-by-state analysis of who owns their home in America — and what drives the enormous 35-point gap between the highest and lowest rates.
March 23, 2026
Mortgage Denial Rates: Who Gets Told No — and Why
HMDA data reveals persistent racial disparities in mortgage lending. Black applicants are denied at nearly 3x the rate of White applicants, even at similar incomes.
March 22, 2026
The Teacher Housing Gap: Where Educators Can't Afford to Live
With a median salary of $63,670, America's elementary teachers are priced out of homeownership in the majority of states — and virtually every major metro.
March 21, 2026
The 7.3 Million Home Shortage: Where the Gap Is Worst
America needs 7.3 million more homes than it has. We map where the deficit is most severe and what's driving it.
March 15, 2026
12 Million Households Paying More Than Half Their Income in Rent
Severe rent burden has reached crisis proportions. We examine who's affected, where, and what it means for American families.
March 5, 2026
Where We're Underbuilding the Most
A data-driven look at which metros and states are producing the fewest new housing units relative to demand.
February 28, 2026
The Shift in US Housing Tenure
America's homeownership rate hasn't recovered from the 2008 crisis. We examine who's renting, who's buying, and what changed.
February 20, 2026
The Data-Driven Connection Between Housing Costs and Homelessness
Across metros, the relationship between housing costs and homelessness is remarkably clear. We quantify the connection.
February 15, 2026
Which States Are Actually Doing Something About Housing?
We grade all 50 states on their housing policy efforts across zoning, funding, tenant protections, and production.
February 10, 2026
How Institutional Investors Are Reshaping Rental Markets
Wall Street bought 1 in 4 single-family homes sold in some metros. We follow the money and map the impact.
February 5, 2026
The Eviction Crisis No One Is Talking About
3.6 million eviction filings per year. We examine who gets evicted, why, and what it costs society.
January 28, 2026
The Income You Need to Buy a Home in Every US Metro
We calculate the household income required to afford a median-priced home in 100+ metro areas. The results are sobering.
January 20, 2026
The Growing Housing Crisis for Older Americans
10 million seniors are cost-burdened and the number is rising fast. We examine the collision of aging demographics and unaffordable housing.
January 15, 2026
Does Rent Control Work? What the Data Actually Shows
Rent control is one of housing's most debated policies. We look at what decades of evidence reveal about its effects.
January 10, 2026
30 Years of Data, Little Progress: The Racial Homeownership Gap
The gap between Black and white homeownership has barely moved in three decades. We trace the data and its causes.
January 5, 2026
The True Cost of a Down Payment in Every US Metro
How long would it take to save for a down payment in your city? We calculate the years of saving required in 100+ metros.
December 20, 2025
Zoning Reform Is Happening — But Is It Enough?
From Minneapolis 2040 to Montana's bipartisan overhaul, cities and states are rewriting zoning codes. We examine what's changed, what hasn't, and whether reform is producing results.
March 22, 2026
Rural Housing: The Affordability Crisis Beyond the Cities
46 million Americans live in rural areas where the housing crisis looks different — but is no less severe. We examine the data.
March 20, 2026
Housing Vouchers: Who Gets Help and Who's Left Waiting
Only 1 in 4 eligible families receives a federal housing voucher. We examine the program's reach, its failures, and the millions left behind.
March 18, 2026
The Maps That Show Why Your City Can't Build Its Way Out
75% of residential land is zoned for single-family homes only. We map the regulatory landscape that makes building illegal almost everywhere.
March 16, 2026
Climate Change Is Making the Housing Crisis Worse
Rising insurance costs, flood risk, wildfire, and climate migration are colliding with an already broken housing market. We map the damage.
March 14, 2026
The 25-Year Price Explosion: Where Home Values Have Tripled, Quadrupled, and More
FHFA data reveals which markets saw the most extreme price growth since 2000 — and which were left behind.
March 27, 2026
1.38 Million Permits in 2024: Where America Is Building — and Where It Isn't
Census building permit data reveals a stark divide: Sun Belt metros build furiously while expensive coastal cities barely add supply.
March 27, 2026
The Pandemic Reshuffled the Housing Map: Winners, Losers, and What Comes Next
From 2019 to 2025, the housing map was redrawn. Remote work, migration, and speculation created new winners and losers.
March 27, 2026
The Construction Paradox: Why Expensive Cities Build Less Than Cheap Ones
The metros that need housing most are building the least. Data shows expensive areas permit at less than half the rate of affordable ones.
March 27, 2026