U.S. Birth Rate Hits Record Low: The Housing Cost Trade-Off

Neil Caron
Sep 25
2 min read

September 25, 2025 | Demographics & Housing | Presented by ReadySetLoan™️

What’s Going On

The U.S. fertility rate fell to around 1.6 children per woman in 2024—well below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain population levels. At the same time, housing costs continue to climb. The median price of a single-family home last year hit $410,100, far higher than the inflation-adjusted $343,800 of 2006.

The connection is hard to ignore: as housing grows less affordable, more couples delay marriage, postpone children, or stop at one child instead of two. Housing costs are directly influencing family planning.

Why Connecticut Should Pay Attention

Here in Connecticut, where property taxes, insurance, and housing prices all run higher than the national average, the squeeze is even tighter.

Families are rethinking whether they can afford larger homes to accommodate children.
Younger buyers are putting off milestones like marriage and family formation due to affordability stress.
The housing market itself feels the ripple: fewer children often means slower household formation, fewer buyers in the future, and a shifting demand for space.

🐷 RSL Piggy Points

The fertility rate decline is more than cultural—it’s financial.
Rising home prices + stagnant wages = delayed parenthood.
Space matters: the cost of a bigger home or more bedrooms is a major factor.
Buyers who calculate total costs—mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance—are better prepared.

Neil’s Take 🎤

“The numbers are clear: when housing becomes an obstacle, people start rethinking life plans—like having kids,” says Neil Caron, Area Sales Manager at CMG Mortgage.“In Connecticut, you can’t just look at the sticker price of a home. The space, taxes, fixed expenses—all of it influences if people feel ready for a family.”

RSL Perspective

At ReadySetLoan™️, we believe family planning and home planning go hand-in-hand. Cost clarity doesn’t just help buyers—it shapes entire communities. That’s why we focus on giving Connecticut families a clear view of what they’re paying now, what they’ll need later, and which mortgage options best support their goals for both home and family.

🐽 Final Snout-Out

The drop in U.S. birth rates isn’t just a cultural headline—it’s an economic and housing story. Families are weighing the cost of space, taxes, and long-term affordability when deciding whether and when to have children. Housing costs have become a deciding factor in the future of America’s households.

🏁 Final Lap

For Connecticut buyers and homeowners, the message is clear: clarity is power. Rising housing costs affect more than budgets—they shape life’s biggest decisions. At ReadySetLoan™️, we’re here to guide you through every choice with confidence, from planning your mortgage to planning your future. Because the finish line isn’t just a home—it’s the life you want to build inside it.