News about wealth inequality

The Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances shows a median net worth of $458,900 for homeowners, compared with $10,600 for renters. Homeowners' median grew 6% between the 2022 and 2025 surveys, while renters' fell 7%, with figures inflation-adjusted to 2025 dollars. Home equity is the main driver of the gap: the median net housing value for owners of a primary residence rose 5% to $230,000, while renters build no comparable asset from rent. Renters also face a steeper barrier to buying, as median home prices exceed 4.5 times median family income, roughly flat from the 2022 high. The article suggests using the median rather than the mean for comparison, since the mean is pulled upward by a small group of very wealthy households.

According to the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, the median net worth of homeowners is $458,900, compared with $10,600 for renters. Between the 2022 and 2025 surveys, homeowners' median net worth rose 6% after inflation adjustment, while renters' fell 7%. Home equity is the main driver: the median net housing value for primary residence owners rose 5% to $230,000, and median family income was $108,900 for owners versus $50,300 for renters. The article notes a 66% homeownership rate in 2025 and that the median home price is over 4.5 times median family income, roughly flat from the 2022 peak. Mean figures are much higher than medians because a small group of wealthy households pulls the average up, so the article suggests using the median to compare with typical households.