US Cities See Rising Housing Unaffordability, Los Angeles Leads 97% Neighborhoods

In 2025, housing affordability continues to decline dramatically across the U.S., with nearly half of the 50 largest cities having over 80% of neighborhoods unaffordable for married couples, highlighting a growing crisis in urban housing markets. Cities like Los Angeles, Providence, and Riverside-San Bernardino top the list of least affordable places, while Louisville remains one of the few with more affordable neighborhoods. A global study also identifies California cities among the most unaffordable worldwide, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on young people, minorities, and immigrants. Despite a nationwide increase in housing inventory, particularly in Nevada, Maryland, and North Carolina, affordability remains a challenge as demand and supply dynamics continue to evolve. In specific communities such as Lakeway Estates in Bellingham, Washington, rising lot rents following private equity ownership are displacing low-income senior residents, underscoring the human toll of the housing shortage. Similarly, Maine has experienced soaring home prices with median sale prices more than doubling over the past decade, driven by high demand and low inventory, although recent improvements in housing supply may help stabilize prices.