# US housing and childcare cost trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-housing-and-childcare-cost-trends
> Updated: 2026-08-22T11:03:01.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Reports from real estate platform Redfin and childcare marketplace Winnie indicate that the typical working family in the 100 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas spends an average of 52 percent of its annual income on combined housing and childcare costs.

Data shows significant geographic disparities. In Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, these combined costs exceed 94 percent of median income. In contrast, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and Des Moines are noted as more affordable, with families spending less than 40 percent of their income on these expenses.

The findings suggest that high salaries in certain cities may be offset by high rent and daycare expenses. For instance, in San Jose, California, combined costs account for 83.1 percent of the $176,401 median household income. Experts note that families must weigh both childcare availability and costs when selecting a location, as affordable housing does not always correlate with low childcare expenses.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-22: U.S. families spend 52% of income on housing and childcare

A Redfin and Winnie study shows U.S. families spend an average of 52% of their income on housing and childcare, with some metros exceeding 90%.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-families-spend-52-of-income-on-housing-and-childcare-1

### 2026-08-17: US families spend 52% of income on housing and childcare

A report by Redfin and Winnie shows typical U.S. families spend 52% of their income on housing and childcare, with costs peaking at nearly 97% in Los Angeles.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-families-spend-52-of-income-on-housing-and-childcare

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Cite as: US housing and childcare cost trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-housing-and-childcare-cost-trends