📅 Date Range Selection
Methodology
Cost-to-Income Multiplier: This metric represents how many years of income it would take to pay off a 30-year mortgage (including interest). A higher multiplier indicates lower affordability.
Data Sources:
- Average Weekly Earnings: BLS Series CES0500000011 (Average Weekly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private)
- Case-Shiller Home Price Index: FRED Series CSUSHPINSA (S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index)
- 30-Year Mortgage Rates: FRED Series MORTGAGE30US (30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average)
Calculation: The multiplier is calculated as Total Mortgage Cost (principal + interest over 30 years) divided by Annual Income. Annual income is derived from weekly earnings × 52 weeks.
Household Income Assumption: Household income is calculated as 1.4x single income to account for dual-income households, following standard affordability index methodologies.
Estimated Values: When official data is not yet available, values are estimated using seasonal adjustment factors based on typical housing market patterns. Estimated values appear as dashed lines on the chart.