Authored by Andrew Moran via The Epoch Times,
Typical families in the United States spend half of their income on housing and childcare, according to a report released on Aug. 17 from the real estate platform Redfin.
A man holds a baby outside a coffee shop in Washington on March 11, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch TimesBased on data from Redfin and childcare marketplace Winnie, the typical working family purchasing a home today spends 52 percent of their annual income on housing and childcare combined.
While these costs can decrease as children enroll in public pre-K or kindergarten, researchers say that where a family resides can significantly influence these costs.
Among the 100 most populous U.S. metros, working families residing in Little Rock, Arkansas, would spend less than 40 percent - the least in the country.
Annual housing and childcare costs would total $29,151 for the typical Little Rock working family, compared with a median local income of about $73,000.
The next two most affordable metros include Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (40.8 percent) and Des Moines, Iowa (41.8 percent).
Conversely, Los Angeles had the highest cost nationwide: 96.8 percent. Families spend a combined $94,613, about $3,000 less than the median local income of almost $98,000.
The next least affordable were New York City (95 percent) and San Francisco (94.2 percent).
The numbers indicate that families need to factor in childcare and
