The Average House Payment the Year You Were Born
As you scroll through house listings on Zillow and shake your head about prices, it’s easy to think about how bad modern homebuyers have it. And it truly is harder to afford a home now — but exactly how bad do the buyers of 2022 have it? We scoured 24/7 Wall Street’s list of average home prices back to 1950 in real dollars and in dollars adjusted for inflation (for easy comparison with today’s average price, which is upward of $300,000). We also include the growth rate of the gross domestic product at the time and other economic indicators from The Balance to see what might have affected housing markets that year, as well as some touchstones of culture and technology that defined those eras.
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Adjusted: $141,354
Non-adjusted: $12,788
GDP: 8.7%
The “Peanuts” comic strip appears in newspapers for the first time. The first credit card is patented in the United States by Ralph Schneider. The film “Cinderella” is released by Disney. The United States enters the Korean War. “The Ed Sullivan Show” premieres.
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Adjusted: $138,975
Non-adjusted: $13,561
GDP: 8.0%
DJ Alan Freed coins the term “rock ’n’ roll.” “I Love Lucy” debuts on CBS.
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Adjusted: $141,870
Non-adjusted: $14,159
GDP: 4.1%
Elizabeth II becomes Queen of England. The first hydrogen bomb is detonated successfully by the U.S. The first issue of Mad magazine is published.
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Adjusted: $156,514
Non-adjusted: $15,748
GDP: 4.7%
The first polio vaccine is developed by Jonas Salk. The DNA model is revealed by Francis Crick and James Watson based on work they did with Rosalind Franklin. The first James Bond novel, “Casino Royale,” is published.
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Adjusted: $157,089
Non-adjusted: $15,855
GDP: -0.6%
Segregation is declared unconstitutional in the landmark case of Brown vs. Board of Education. After decades of being the first point of entry to the United States by immigrants, Ellis Island officially closes. Frozen TV dinners are introduced by Swanson. The Dow returns to its 1929 high.
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Adjusted: $158,085
Non-adjusted: $15,911
GDP: 7.1%
Rosa Parks is arrested in Alabama after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, sparking the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. The United States adds “in God we trust” to all paper currency. McDonald’s is franchised by Ray Kroc.
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Adjusted: $156,092
Non-adjusted: $15,950
GDP: 2.1%
Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco. The Federal-Aid Highway Act becomes law, paving the way for construction of interstate highways.
Adjusted: $155,259
Non-adjusted: $16,395
GDP: 2.1%
Little Rock Central High School is integrated with the help of federal troops. The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first satellite. The country enters a recession.
Adjusted: $153,328
Non-adjusted: $16,633
GDP: -0.7%
The Hula Hoop is created by Wham-O. NASA is formed. The recession ends.
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Adjusted: $151,675
Non-adjusted: $16,620
GDP: 6.9%
Alaska and Hawaii become states. Fidel Castro comes into power in Cuba.
Adjusted: $150,341
Non-adjusted: $16,714
GDP: 2.9%
The first oral contraceptive pill is authorized for use. The laser is invented by Theodore Maiman. “Psycho” premieres at the box office. Bubble wrap is created.
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Adjusted: $149,460
Non-adjusted: $16,794
GDP: 2.6%
The film “West Side Story” debuts. “The Mike Douglas Show” airs for the first time.
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Adjusted: $149,335
Non-adjusted: $16,981
GDP: 6.1%
“The Beverly Hillbillies” debuts on television.
Adjusted: $149,043
Non-adjusted: $17,158
GDP: 4.4%
The United States releases a vaccine for measles. Betty Friedan’s book “The Feminine Mystique” is published. The first liver and lung transplants take place. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas.
Adjusted: $149,451
Non-adjusted: $17,425
GDP: 5.8%
The Beatles come to the United States. The first supercomputer, the CDC 6600, is released. U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry confirms that smoking causes cancer. “Mary Poppins” premieres. “The Addams Family” debuts on television. Medicare and Medicaid are launched.
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Adjusted: $149,137
Non-adjusted: $17,664
GDP: 6.5%
Audiophiles meet the eight-track player. “The Sound of Music” premieres.
Adjusted: $147,174
Non-adjusted: $17,957
GDP: 6.6%
“Star Trek” debuts on television and the limbo dance becomes popular. Ronald Reagan is elected governor of California and the United States sees its first mass shooting: Charles Whitman, at the University of Texas.
Adjusted: $145,197
Non-adjusted: $18,207
GDP: 2.7%
Thurgood Marshall becomes the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice. The first heart transplant is conducted by Dr. Christiaan Barnard on Louis Washkanksky. The film “The Graduate” debuts.
Adjusted: $143,233
Non-adjusted: $18,728
GDP: 4.9%
The film “2001: A Space Odyssey” debuts. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is released. The film rating system is introduced. “60 Minutes” debuts on CBS. Dr. Martin Luther King is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The moon landing occurs, giving U.S. consumers confidence, thereby giving a boost to GDP.
Adjusted: $144,640
Non-adjusted: $19,945
GDP: 3.1%
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair takes place in Bethel, New York. John Wayne wins Best Actor for the film “True Grit.”
Adjusted: $147,631
Non-adjusted: $21,546
GDP: 0.2%
The Jackson 5 debuts with “ABC” and “The Love You Save,” which are instant hits. The first jumbo jet takes off. The country enters a recession.
Adjusted: $149,373
Non-adjusted: $22,736
GDP: 3.3%
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” is released. Radio and TV cigarette ads are banned. Muhammed Ali is defeated by Joe Frazier. Disco is born. The first Starbucks opens in Seattle. “All In The Family” debuts on CBS. Wage-price controls are put into place.
Adjusted: $150,613
Non-adjusted: $23,675
GDP: 5.3%
The film “The Godfather” premieres. ABBA debuts in Stockholm. The first video game, Pong, is created by Atari. HBO launches with the film “Sometimes a Great Notion.” The first digital watches are sold — with a price tag of $2,100. The country is in stagflation, which means there is both high inflation and high unemployment.
Adjusted: $144,798
Non-adjusted: $24,167
GDP: 5.6%
“The Exorcist” becomes a smash hit. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn is one of the top hits of the year. The “battle of the sexes” takes place with tennis greats Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago is built. The first cell call is placed. 1973 marks the end of the gold standard.
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Adjusted: $140,209
Non-adjusted: $25,988
GDP: -0.5%
“The Towering Inferno” and “Blazing Saddles” debut. The first calculator, the HP-35 is introduced. Nixon resigns. Dial-A-Joke debuts. Stephen King’s “Carrie” is published. Congress impeaches President Richard Nixon over the Watergate break-in and cover-up, and Nixon eventually resigns.
Adjusted: $139,724
Non-adjusted: $28,266
GDP: -0.2%
“Saturday Night Live” premieres. “Jaws” and “One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest” debut. Van McCoy releases “Do the Hustle,” introducing the popular dance. Microsoft is founded. The recession ends.
Adjusted: $141,940
Non-adjusted: $30,364
GDP: 5.4%
The first “Rocky” film is released, the game show “Family Feud” comes to television and the Eagles' “Hotel California” tops the charts. VHS comes to home entertainment and Apple Computers is founded. The classic film "Gone With the Wind" comes to television for the first time. The Fed lowers rates.
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Adjusted: $149,160
Non-adjusted: $33,983
GDP: 4.6%
“Star Wars,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “The Spy Who Loved Me” arrive on the big screen, Fleetwood Mac releases “Rumours,” and Alex Haley's “Roots” comes to TV. Elvis Presley dies. The Concorde begins flying between London and New York. GPS debuts.
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Adjusted: $159,692
Non-adjusted: $39,159
GDP: 5.5%
The film “Grease” debuts, as does “Superman.” The Bee Gees rack up several No. 1 songs. The comic strip “Garfield” appears in newspapers for the first time. “Laverne & Shirley” and “Three's Company” are hit sitcoms. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” tops the charts. The Fed enacts a 20% rate hike, ending a round of inflation
Adjusted: $165,641
Non-adjusted: $45,189
GDP: 3.2%
The United States boycotts the summer Olympics in Moscow. The film “Alien” premieres. “Dallas” and “Alice” are hits on television. The country enters recession.
Adjusted: $160,028
Non-adjusted: $49,573
GDP: -0.3%
Pac-Man is released. The Sony Walkman is introduced. The Rubik's Cube released. “Who shot JR?” on the TV show Dallas is a summer cliffhanger, a mystery which captivated the nation.
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Adjusted: $154,302
Non-adjusted: $52,739
GDP: 2.5%
Prince Charles and Lady Diana marry. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is a blockbuster. MTV launches. Reagan begins enacting tax cuts that will lead eventually to tax hikes.
Adjusted: $148,390
Non-adjusted: $53,828
GDP: -1.8%
"Cats" debuts on Broadway. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” tops the box office. Michael Jackson's “Thriller” album is released. A recession ends.
Adjusted: $148,202
Non-adjusted: $55,487
GDP: 4.6%
Mario Bros. debuts. The Swatch watch takes over pop culture. The moonwalk becomes a popular dance after Michael Jackson performs it on a Motown 25th anniversary television special. Congress raises taxes and approves a massive defense spending bill.
Adjusted: $148,783
Non-adjusted: $58,100
GDP: 7.2%
“The Karate Kid” becomes a hit at the box office, as do “Ghostbusters” and “Sixteen Candles.” “Purple Rain” by Prince is the top song. The first CD player is introduced.
Adjusted: $151,973
Non-adjusted: $61,450
GDP: 4.2%
“Back to the Future” and “The Color Purple” have people flocking to the movies. The first mobile phone call happens in the U.K. The Nintendo entertainment system is released.
Adjusted: $162,321
Non-adjusted: $66,880
GDP: 3.5%
The space shuttle Challenger explodes 74 seconds after liftoff. The film “Top Gun” is released, as is “Pretty in Pink” and the first Studio Ghibli film. “The Polar Express” wins the Caldecott award. Halley’s comet reappears, captivating the world. Hands Across America takes place. A tax cut is approved by Congress.
Adjusted: $170,614
Non-adjusted: $72,873
GDP: 3.5%
The stock market loses 22.6% of value on Oct. 19, known as Black Monday. U2 releases its “Joshua Tree” album. “Moonstruck,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “Fatal Attraction” are box office hits.
Adjusted: $175,989
Non-adjusted: $78,234
GDP: 4.2%
“The Land Before Time” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” are blockbuster hits. Scrappy Doo is written out of the “Scooby Doo” cartoons. The first computer virus emerges. Prozac is released. The Fed raises rates.
Adjusted: $178,175
Non-adjusted: $83,029
GDP: 3.7%
“Batman,” “The Little Mermaid” and “When Harry Met Sally” debut. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey is released, along with Madonna's “Like A Prayer,” and Pepsi drops Madonna. The running man and Electric Slide become popular dances. The savings and loan crisis arrives.
Adjusted: $172,240
Non-adjusted: $84,596
GDP: 1.9%
In South Dakota, Sue Hendrickson discovers the remains of a T-rex — the most complex and well-preserved skeleton to date (which is later named Sue).” Home Alone” debuts and is a smash hit. The country enters into a recession.
Adjusted: $163,072
Non-adjusted: $83,485
GDP: -0.1%
MC Hammer debuts “U Can't Touch This.” “Scarlett,” the follow-up to “Gone With The Wind,” is released by Alexandra Ripley (and is universally panned). The first McDonald's opens in the Soviet Union.
Adjusted: $159,133
Non-adjusted: $83,936
GDP: 3.5%
“Reservoir Dogs” and Nirvana's “Nevermind” debut. The JPEG standard for photo files and 2G mobile phones arrive. The North American Free Trade Agreement is established.
Adjusted: $156,774
Non-adjusted: $85,132
GDP: 2.8%
“Jurassic Park” and “Sleepless in Seattle” are box office hits and “Beavis and Butt-Head” debuts on MTV, beginning the shift away from music. Prince changes his name to the love symbol to protest a contract. Congress passes the Balanced Budget Act.
Adjusted: $156,855
Non-adjusted: $87,397
GDP: 4.0%
Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson marry. Howard Stern convinces a caller not to jump off the George Washington Bridge in a conversation that airs live on radio. The TV show “Friends” debuts. McDonald's is sued over the third-degree burns caused by their coffee. Yahoo and Amazon are founded.
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Adjusted: $155,514
Non-adjusted: $89,081
GDP: 2.7%
Auction site eBay — then called AuctionWeb — launches, and the first item sold is a broken laser pointer. “Apollo 13,” “Braveheart,” and “Clueless” debut to much success. The Fed raises rates.
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Adjusted: $154,488
Non-adjusted: $91,087
GDP: 3.8%
A January blizzard strikes the East Coast, causing life to come to a standstill. The film “Independence Day” becomes a smash hit. Congress passes welfare reform.
Adjusted: $155,540
Non-adjusted: $93,851
GDP: 4.4%
The film “Titanic” is released, and the first Harry Potter book is released. Steve Jobs returns to Apple. Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield's ear.
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Adjusted: $161,745
Non-adjusted: $99,110
GDP: 4.5%
The film “Armageddon” is released. Google is formed.
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Adjusted: $169,306
Non-adjusted: $106,013
GDP: 4.8%
The Dow closes above 10,000 for the first time. “The Matrix” premieres and “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears debuts. John F. Kennedy Jr. dies in a plane crash, which also takes the life of his wife and her sister.
Adjusted: $177,980
Non-adjusted: $115,208
GDP: 4.1%
The dot-com bubble bursts and, coincidentally, “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire” begins its run on Fox.
Adjusted: $186,981
Non-adjusted: $124,455
GDP: 1%
Terrorists hijack airlines and crash into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; a passenger uprising on United Airlines Flight 93 keeps it from being flown into its target, and it instead crashes in a field in Pennsylvania. The 9/11 attacks cause consumer uncertainty, affecting GDP. The Victoria's Secret fashion show is broadcast on TV for the first time.
Adjusted: $198,862
Non-adjusted: $134,462
GDP: 1.7%
“American Idol” and the TV show “24” debut. The war on terrorism is credited with boosting consumer confidence and GDP. Gas drops to $1.61 per gallon.
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Adjusted: $212,663
Non-adjusted: $147,058
GDP: 2.9%
DNA sequencing identifies 99% of the human genome. Eminem wins an Oscar. “America's Next Top Model” premieres. The Iraq War begins.
Adjusted: $233,014
Non-adjusted: $165,445
GDP: 3.8%
The Motorola Razr phone is launched. “Mean Girls” is released, and Disney’s “The Incredibles” becomes an instant smash.
Adjusted: $257,292
Non-adjusted: $188,881
GDP: 3.5%
Hurricane Katrina hits Louisiana. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani is a hit song, and “Million Dollar Baby” wins best picture. YouTube is introduced. Tom Cruise jumps on a couch to show his excitement over girlfriend Katie Holmes. Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles. Hurricane Katrina makes landfall, causing more than 1,800 deaths and $125 billion in damage, as well as pounding the administration of President George W. Bush.
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Adjusted: $266,242
Non-adjusted: $201,756
GDP: 2.9%
“Brokeback Mountain” is named Best Picture. Disney buys Pixar. The one billionth song is downloaded through iTunes — Coldplay's “Speed of Sound.” Facebook opens to anyone over 13 with an email address. The Fed raises rates.
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Adjusted: $253,879
Non-adjusted: $197,876
GDP: 1.9%
The first iPhones and Amazon kindles are released; Netflix launches and Twitter becomes an independent company. The Cupid Shuffle dance is born. The real estate bubble bursts, and the ensuing bank crisis sends the U.S. economy into turmoil.
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Adjusted: $222,928
Non-adjusted: $180,423
GDP: -0.1%
“The Dark Knight,” with its star turn by Heath Ledger, is released. Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president, is elected in time for a global financial crisis that arises when the stock market crashes — also tanking GDP.
Adjusted: $202,583
Non-adjusted: $163,374
GDP: -2.5%
Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards, and “Avatar” revives 3D films. The Stimulus Act is passed, in hopes it’ll help GDP.
Adjusted: $194,043
Non-adjusted: $159,053
GDP: 2.6%
Apple unveils the iPad, and the game “Angry Birds” is released. Lady Gaga wears the meat dress to the VMAs, and One Direction debuts and quickly becomes one of the world's biggest boy bands. The oil rig Deepwater Horizon explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 and spilling 134 million gallons of oil.
Adjusted: $181,059
Non-adjusted: $153,096
GDP: 1.6%
The Oprah Winfrey Show airs its final episode, marking the end of the talk show host’s legendary (and sometimes controversial) 25-season run. “Game of Thrones” debuts on HBO. Government repeals "don't ask, don't tell," the 1993 law barring lesbians, gays, and bisexuals from serving in the U.S. military if they acknowledged their sexual orientation. An earthquake in Japan kills at least 20,000 people.
Adjusted: $179,668
Non-adjusted: $155,063
GDP: 2.2%
Hurricane Sandy strikes the East Coast. Encyclopedia Britannica suspends its print editions.
Adjusted: $194,115
Non-adjusted: $169,986
GDP: 1.8%
Beyonce releases a surprise album, upending the normal release protocol for modern musicians. Disney releases “Frozen,” which becomes one of the most popular animated films in history. The city of Detroit files for bankruptcy.
Adjusted: $203,618
Non-adjusted: $181,200
GDP: 2.5%
Ebola becomes a global concern. “Late Night” host David Letterman retires. Kim Kardashian marries Kanye West.
Adjusted: $212,797
Non-adjusted: $189,593
GDP: 3.1%
Apple introduces the Apple Watch. Tesla introduces its autopilot technology — which has never matched up to the promise of its name.
Adjusted: $236,139
Non-adjusted: $213,044
GDP: 1.7%
Ashley Graham becomes one of the first plus-sized supermodels. Samsung Galaxy Note 7s explode on the scene all too literally, causing the company to discontinue the product. An “Iguana vs Snakes” clip captivates viewers on “Planet Earth II.” The U.S. presidential race causes uncertainty, which makes GDP shrink.
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Adjusted: $244,607
Non-adjusted: $225,385
GDP: 2.3%
A solar eclipse is visible in the United States for the first since 1918. The #MeToo movement begins to highlight sexual harassment.
Adjusted: $255,820
Non-adjusted: $241,474
GDP: 3%
The Nobel Prize for literature is canceled for the first time in 60 years. Apple becomes the first trillion-dollar company. Disney’s “Black Panther,” the first Marvel film with a predominantly Black cast, grosses $1.4 billion worldwide. Deficit spending increases GDP.
Adjusted: $264,819
Non-adjusted: $254,498
GDP: 2.2%
Lil Nas X's “Old Town Road” becomes a hit. Tiger Woods wins the Masters after an 11-year absence. Conor McGregor makes his boxing debut — and so do Apple’s AirPods Pro. A trade war softens GDP.
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Adjusted: $277,220
Non-adjusted: $269,703
GDP: -3.41%
The COVID-19 pandemic brings the world to a standstill, with massive economic effects on travel, retail, entertainment, and health services. Netflix’s “Tiger King” is first among cultural phenomenons as homebound people search for things to keep them entertained, and people turn to shopping to replace entertainment they can usually find outside the home, adding to supply chain problems started by panic buying, In some areas, home sales skyrocket as people scramble to house themselves and, in some cases, family members who have returned home.
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Adjusted: $299,140
Non-adjusted: $303,035
As COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available in some countries, the economy begins to reopen. The delta variant of the coronavirus causes a spike in unvaccinated pockets of the population.
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