Boy Meets Housing Affordability: The Price of a Home the Year You Turned 38

Gen X couple in front of their home — Getty Images

In a now-viral TikTok clip from a 1999 episode of “Boy Meets World” (“Pickett Fences”), beloved couple Cory and Topanga are stunned to learn a house costs $80,000. The moment plays as comedy—a nod and a wink to their naivete as kids on the precipice of entering the “real world.”

But for millennials watching today, the punch line feels more like a slap in the face.

That $80,000 price tag isn’t just outdated, it’s now lower than the average down payment in some major cities. And the real gut punch? Many of us expected we’d be homeowners by now.

Homeownership has long stood for stability, adulthood, and financial arrival. It’s the point where renting ends, equity begins, and a house becomes a home. But for many in their 30s and 40s, that milestone keeps slipping further out of reach.

The irony is sharp: The median age of a first-time homebuyer today is 38—an age once associated with having made it, not just getting started. After decades marked by recessions, stagnant wages, and soaring home prices, it’s no wonder this generation feels behind.

Why homebuying keeps getting delayed

So what’s behind the rising average age of first-time buyers?

It’s not just bad timing—it’s a confluence of structural challenges that have stacked the deck against younger generations. Student debt burdens, stalled wages, a shortage of affordable housing, and tighter lending standards have all played a role in delaying homeownership.

Add in the aftershocks of the Great Recession and the whiplash of the COVID-19 pandemic housing market, and it’s easy to see why buying a home has become a late-stage milestone rather than a mid-20s rite of passage.

At the same time, prices have soared at a pace that far outstrips income growth. A median-priced home in the U.S. today costs more than five times what Cory and Topanga were horrified by in 1999—and that’s before accounting for closing costs, property taxes, and a down payment.

While the dream of homeownership is still very much alive, many are left wondering whether they’re chasing something they should have already caught. That’s why we pulled the numbers—to see exactly how much home prices have grown, and how they compare across time and regions.

Home prices through the years

1968

Median sales price: $20,295
Inflation-adjusted price: $186,516
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $21,800 ($200,338 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $18,000 ($165,447 adjusted for inflation)
South: $18,863 ($173,367 adjusted for inflation)
West: $22,975 ($211,174 adjusted for inflation)

1969

Median sales price: $21,825
Inflation-adjusted price: $190,245
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $23,775 ($207,212 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $18,992 ($165,589 adjusted for inflation)
South: $20,353 ($177,377 adjusted for inflation)
West: $23,892 ($208,298 adjusted for inflation)

1970

Median sales price: $22,984
Inflation-adjusted price: $189,232
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $25,242 ($207,833 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $20,100 ($165,497 adjusted for inflation)
South: $22,150 ($182,367 adjusted for inflation)
West: $24,317 ($200,207 adjusted for inflation)

1971

Median sales price: $24,777
Inflation-adjusted price: $195,697
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $27,042 ($213,589 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $22,075 ($174,363 adjusted for inflation)
South: $24,241 ($191,444 adjusted for inflation)
West: $26,450 ($208,912 adjusted for inflation)

1972

Median sales price: $26,668
Inflation-adjusted price: $203,947
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $29,767 ($227,652 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $23,858 ($182,482 adjusted for inflation)
South: $26,392 ($201,814 adjusted for inflation)
West: $28,392 ($217,149 adjusted for inflation)

1973

Median sales price: $28,947
Inflation-adjusted price: $208,359
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $32,808 ($236,061 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $25,283 ($182,076 adjusted for inflation)
South: $29,046 ($209,062 adjusted for inflation)
West: $31,092 ($223,795 adjusted for inflation)

1974

Median sales price: $32,029
Inflation-adjusted price: $207,744
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $35,767 ($232,004 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $27,742 ($179,947 adjusted for inflation)
South: $32,153 ($208,613 adjusted for inflation)
West: $34,783 ($225,657 adjusted for inflation)

1975

Median sales price: $35,256
Inflation-adjusted price: $209,424
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $39,208 ($232,932 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $30,183 ($179,300 adjusted for inflation)
South: $34,741 ($206,381 adjusted for inflation)
West: $39,608 ($235,279 adjusted for inflation)

1976

Median sales price: $38,084
Inflation-adjusted price: $213,857
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $41,650 ($233,905 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $32,883 ($184,655 adjusted for inflation)
South: $36,405 ($204,461 adjusted for inflation)
West: $45,992 ($258,219 adjusted for inflation)

1977

Median sales price: $42,764
Inflation-adjusted price: $225,505
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $44,125 ($232,694 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $36,600 ($193,027 adjusted for inflation)
South: $39,792 ($209,874 adjusted for inflation)
West: $57,458 ($302,959 adjusted for inflation)

1978

Median sales price: $48,701
Inflation-adjusted price: $238,637
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $47,892 ($234,630 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $42,217 ($206,866 adjusted for inflation)
South: $44,919 ($220,128 adjusted for inflation)
West: $66,508 ($325,949 adjusted for inflation)

1979

Median sales price: $55,529
Inflation-adjusted price: $244,713
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $53,283 ($234,907 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $47,717 ($210,349 adjusted for inflation)
South: $51,163 ($225,405 adjusted for inflation)
West: $77,625 ($341,963 adjusted for inflation)

1980

Median sales price: $62,049
Inflation-adjusted price: $240,834
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $60,442 ($234,515 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $51,850 ($201,296 adjusted for inflation)
South: $58,287 ($226,204 adjusted for inflation)
West: $89,525 ($347,604 adjusted for inflation)

1981

Median sales price: $66,128
Inflation-adjusted price: $232,621
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $63,050 ($221,787 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $54,125 ($190,430 adjusted for inflation)
South: $63,841 ($224,520 adjusted for inflation)
West: $95,900 ($337,476 adjusted for inflation)

1982

Median sales price: $67,705
Inflation-adjusted price: $224,315
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $63,250 ($209,509 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $55,067 ($182,452 adjusted for inflation)
South: $66,864 ($221,529 adjusted for inflation)
West: $98,700 ($327,004 adjusted for inflation)

1983

Median sales price: $69,835
Inflation-adjusted price: $224,234
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $71,683 ($230,144 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $56,400 ($181,141 adjusted for inflation)
South: $68,986 ($221,492 adjusted for inflation)
West: $93,700 ($300,922 adjusted for inflation)

1984

Median sales price: $72,308
Inflation-adjusted price: $222,468
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $78,700 ($242,089 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $56,942 ($175,235 adjusted for inflation)
South: $71,264 ($219,252 adjusted for inflation)
West: $95,817 ($294,852 adjusted for inflation)

1985

Median sales price: $75,370
Inflation-adjusted price: $223,981
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $88,842 ($263,998 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $58,817 ($174,813 adjusted for inflation)
South: $75,021 ($222,940 adjusted for inflation)
West: $95,283 ($283,178 adjusted for inflation)

1986

Median sales price: $80,268
Inflation-adjusted price: $233,996
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $104,675 ($305,148 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $63,375 ($184,774 adjusted for inflation)
South: $78,000 ($227,400 adjusted for inflation)
West: $100,058 ($291,695 adjusted for inflation)

1987

Median sales price: $85,584
Inflation-adjusted price: $240,882
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $132,933 ($374,062 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $66,000 ($185,810 adjusted for inflation)
South: $80,592 ($226,856 adjusted for inflation)
West: $112,975 ($317,886 adjusted for inflation)

1988

Median sales price: $89,210
Inflation-adjusted price: $241,212
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $142,492 ($385,255 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $68,225 ($184,486 adjusted for inflation)
South: $82,164 ($222,196 adjusted for inflation)
West: $124,667 ($336,966 adjusted for inflation)

1989

Median sales price: $94,327
Inflation-adjusted price: $243,345
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $146,167 ($376,962 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $72,583 ($187,237 adjusted for inflation)
South: $85,659 ($221,015 adjusted for inflation)
West: $137,150 ($353,894 adjusted for inflation)

1990

Median sales price: $96,826
Inflation-adjusted price: $237,045
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $144,717 ($354,217 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $76,175 ($186,491 adjusted for inflation)
South: $86,301 ($211,289 adjusted for inflation)
West: $139,700 ($342,137 adjusted for inflation)

1991

Median sales price: $102,028
Inflation-adjusted price: $239,581
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $147,450 ($346,231 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $80,433 ($188,887 adjusted for inflation)
South: $89,634 ($210,478 adjusted for inflation)
West: $145,600 ($341,974 adjusted for inflation)

1992

Median sales price: $105,071
Inflation-adjusted price: $239,459
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $147,658 ($336,504 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $84,100 ($191,669 adjusted for inflation)
South: $92,919 ($211,758 adjusted for inflation)
West: $142,175 ($324,116 adjusted for inflation)

1993

Median sales price: $108,242
Inflation-adjusted price: $239,562
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $147,375 ($326,126 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $86,950 ($192,435 adjusted for inflation)
South: $95,297 ($210,913 adjusted for inflation)
West: $142,700 ($315,846 adjusted for inflation)

1994

Median sales price: $112,722
Inflation-adjusted price: $243,191
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $147,475 ($318,124 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $90,433 ($195,089 adjusted for inflation)
South: $97,032 ($209,356 adjusted for inflation)
West: $150,400 ($324,476 adjusted for inflation)

1995

Median sales price: $115,810
Inflation-adjusted price: $243,003
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $144,775 ($303,757 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $95,483 ($200,324 adjusted for inflation)
South: $98,726 ($207,157 adjusted for inflation)
West: $151,867 ($318,681 adjusted for inflation)

1996

Median sales price: $121,878
Inflation-adjusted price: $248,466
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $145,950 ($297,482 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $102,142 ($208,214 adjusted for inflation)
South: $104,689 ($213,420 adjusted for inflation)
West: $158,492 ($323,114 adjusted for inflation)

1997

Median sales price: $128,029
Inflation-adjusted price: $255,028
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $150,575 ($299,915 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $107,967 ($215,060 adjusted for inflation)
South: $110,735 ($220,576 adjusted for inflation)
West: $167,075 ($332,803 adjusted for inflation)

1998

Median sales price: $134,958
Inflation-adjusted price: $264,740
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $155,375 ($304,767 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $115,408 ($226,379 adjusted for inflation)
South: $117,542 ($230,576 adjusted for inflation)
West: $177,483 ($348,154 adjusted for inflation)

1999

Median sales price: $140,244
Inflation-adjusted price: $269,212
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $158,592 ($304,395 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $120,575 ($231,435 adjusted for inflation)
South: $121,990 ($234,167 adjusted for inflation)
West: $188,008 ($360,907 adjusted for inflation)

2000

Median sales price: $146,001
Inflation-adjusted price: $271,124
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $160,508 ($298,017 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $123,867 ($230,023 adjusted for inflation)
South: $129,277 ($240,053 adjusted for inflation)
West: $197,583 ($366,896 adjusted for inflation)

2001

Median sales price: $154,473
Inflation-adjusted price: $278,994
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $169,067 ($305,321 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $129,175 ($233,294 adjusted for inflation)
South: $139,533 ($252,014 adjusted for inflation)
West: $208,033 ($375,710 adjusted for inflation)

2002

Median sales price: $166,170
Inflation-adjusted price: $295,393
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $188,692 ($335,356 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $136,567 ($242,749 adjusted for inflation)
South: $149,475 ($265,722 adjusted for inflation)
West: $231,633 ($411,800 adjusted for inflation)

2003

Median sales price: $178,289
Inflation-adjusted price: $309,829
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $216,225 ($375,695 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $142,817 ($248,190 adjusted for inflation)
South: $158,994 ($276,306 adjusted for inflation)
West: $251,408 ($436,883 adjusted for inflation)

2004

Median sales price: $192,765
Inflation-adjusted price: $326,260
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $250,008 ($423,086 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $150,100 ($254,022 adjusted for inflation)
South: $169,520 ($286,928 adjusted for inflation)
West: $284,117 ($480,770 adjusted for inflation)

2005

Median sales price: $217,364
Inflation-adjusted price: $355,861
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $280,192 ($458,823 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $165,883 ($271,571 adjusted for inflation)
South: $181,315 ($296,851 adjusted for inflation)
West: $337,925 ($553,161 adjusted for inflation)

2006

Median sales price: $221,923
Inflation-adjusted price: $352,125
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $280,992 ($445,815 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $164,400 ($260,798 adjusted for inflation)
South: $183,983 ($291,920 adjusted for inflation)
West: $349,875 ($555,066 adjusted for inflation)

2007

Median sales price: $215,531
Inflation-adjusted price: $332,534
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $279,042 ($430,482 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $160,750 ($247,937 adjusted for inflation)
South: $178,585 ($275,530 adjusted for inflation)
West: $338,250 ($521,827 adjusted for inflation)

2008

Median sales price: $195,871
Inflation-adjusted price: $291,046
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $267,758 ($397,825 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $150,308 ($223,185 adjusted for inflation)
South: $167,994 ($249,598 adjusted for inflation)
West: $275,817 ($409,826 adjusted for inflation)

2009

Median sales price: $172,572
Inflation-adjusted price: $257,223
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $240,750 ($358,829 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $141,642 ($211,077 adjusted for inflation)
South: $154,297 ($229,980 adjusted for inflation)
West: $222,433 ($331,525 adjusted for inflation)

2010

Median sales price: $172,794
Inflation-adjusted price: $253,384
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $246,525 ($361,525 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $140,458 ($205,969 adjusted for inflation)
South: $153,041 ($224,415 adjusted for inflation)
West: $219,525 ($321,925 adjusted for inflation)

2011

Median sales price: $164,989
Inflation-adjusted price: $234,602
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $235,575 ($334,970 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $134,192 ($190,749 adjusted for inflation)
South: $148,525 ($211,190 adjusted for inflation)
West: $203,550 ($289,368 adjusted for inflation)

2012

Median sales price: $175,646
Inflation-adjusted price: $244,624
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $235,717 ($328,345 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $141,833 ($197,533 adjusted for inflation)
South: $156,797 ($218,380 adjusted for inflation)
West: $232,167 ($323,268 adjusted for inflation)

2013

Median sales price: $195,747
Inflation-adjusted price: $268,686
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $247,267 ($339,438 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $153,117 ($210,175 adjusted for inflation)
South: $172,743 ($237,114 adjusted for inflation)
West: $274,600 ($376,901 adjusted for inflation)

2014

Median sales price: $207,103
Inflation-adjusted price: $279,761
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $250,300 ($338,095 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $161,475 ($218,088 adjusted for inflation)
South: $181,966 ($245,807 adjusted for inflation)
West: $294,275 ($397,499 adjusted for inflation)

2015

Median sales price: $221,267
Inflation-adjusted price: $298,522
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $259,558 ($350,167 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $172,692 ($232,952 adjusted for inflation)
South: $195,043 ($263,142 adjusted for inflation)
West: $316,908 ($427,520 adjusted for inflation)

2016

Median sales price: $233,567
Inflation-adjusted price: $311,168
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $263,192 ($350,652 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $182,517 ($243,139 adjusted for inflation)
South: $208,011 ($277,113 adjusted for inflation)
West: $340,325 ($453,346 adjusted for inflation)

2017

Median sales price: $247,449
Inflation-adjusted price: $322,797
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $272,642 ($355,694 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $194,125 ($253,242 adjusted for inflation)
South: $221,354 ($288,764 adjusted for inflation)
West: $367,400 ($479,250 adjusted for inflation)

2018

Median sales price: $259,405
Inflation-adjusted price: $330,343
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $285,958 ($364,125 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $199,933 ($254,598 adjusted for inflation)
South: $230,357 ($293,361 adjusted for inflation)
West: $387,475 ($493,428 adjusted for inflation)

2019

Median sales price: $272,319
Inflation-adjusted price: $340,589
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $298,217 ($372,958 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $211,950 ($265,077 adjusted for inflation)
South: $240,522 ($300,826 adjusted for inflation)
West: $404,375 ($505,736 adjusted for inflation)

2020

Median sales price: $298,860
Inflation-adjusted price: $369,087
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $336,167 ($415,173 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $231,992 ($286,578 adjusted for inflation)
South: $262,556 ($324,260 adjusted for inflation)
West: $445,275 ($549,929 adjusted for inflation)

2021

Median sales price: $353,948
Inflation-adjusted price: $417,541
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $392,225 ($462,862 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $260,467 ($307,322 adjusted for inflation)
South: $312,721 ($368,743 adjusted for inflation)
West: $548,192 ($646,441 adjusted for inflation)

2022

Median sales price: $390,197
Inflation-adjusted price: $426,538
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $422,142 ($461,232 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $278,525 ($304,301 adjusted for inflation)
South: $357,328 ($390,599 adjusted for inflation)
West: $610,267 ($667,069 adjusted for inflation)

2023

Median sales price: $392,515
Inflation-adjusted price: $411,909
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $438,842 ($460,425 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $287,942 ($302,145 adjusted for inflation)
South: $360,144 ($377,958 adjusted for inflation)
West: $600,317 ($629,887 adjusted for inflation)

2024

Median sales price: $410,148
Inflation-adjusted price: $418,078
Median sales price by region:
Northeast: $483,067 ($492,334 adjusted for inflation)
Midwest: $305,625 ($311,512 adjusted for inflation)
South: $367,782 ($374,915 adjusted for inflation)
West: $627,942 ($640,064 adjusted for inflation)