Quality affordable housing is essential for economic mobility but remains unattainable for too many in the United States. A severe housing shortage that spans the entire country is fueling the crisis, say Senior Partner Shelley Stewart III and coauthors. The housing shortage nearly doubled between 2012 and 2023, climbing to 8.2 million units. By 2035, the shortage could reach 9.6 million units, further entrenching financial insecurity across the nation. Closing the gap may require $2.7 trillion through 2035 but could potentially boost GDP by $1.9 trillion and create 1.7 million jobs.
Image description:
A map of the United States displays the current housing gap data by state, and is further segmented by county. The counties are color-coded from white to dark cyan, representing housing shortages ranging from 0 to 2,000 units per 1,000 households.
Source: Steven Ruggles, et al., IPUMS USA: Version 16.0 Database, IPUMS, 2025; US Census Bureau American Community Survey.
End of image description.
To explore the interactive, see “Mapping the US affordable housing crisis and unlocking opportunities for economic mobility,” August 11, 2025.