Addressing the Affordability Crisis Public Comment from the Urban InstituteFrom:Maia Berlow
To:Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject:EXTERNAL Update: Addressing the Affordability Crisis
Date:Thursday, April 2, 2026 1:24:46 PM
Good afternoon,
I wanted to share the latest update to the Urban Institute’s American Affordability Tracker, that
provides timely cost of living data at the state, national, and congressional district levels. The
dashboard tracks trends across key areas such as child care, gas, groceries, rent, health insurance,
and home sales, and now includes updated data and a new metric: electricity cost. The
tracker shares insights into how high costs of living are outpacing earnings and affecting families
nationwide.
The tool also features an accompanying solutions brief with new strategies big and
small that policymakers at all levels of government can use to reduce costs for
families.
If you would like to connect with our experts as you pursue this work in your community, please
do not hesitate to reach out, we’d be happy to partner with you.
Key takeaways include:
Nearly half of people in American families cannot afford the true cost of
living. Urban research finds 49 percent of people in American families don’t have the
resources to cover essential expenses to live securely in their community.
The cost of essential goods and services is rising faster than earnings. Since
2017, average earnings have grown about 43 percent nationwide. Over the same period,
home sale prices have increased 81 percent and rents 54 percent. The lowest-cost Silver
health plan on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace has risen 77 percent, and child care
costs have grown faster than earnings.
Rising everyday expenses, including energy and transportation, are adding
new pressures on households. Residential electricity costs have increased faster than
earnings across much of the country, leaving customers paying about $40 more in
December 2025 on average than they did in December 2017. Gas prices have also risen
sharply, with the national average growing by a dollar per gallon since early February.
All my best,
Maia
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Maia Berlow
Associate Director of State and Local Government Affairs
240-418-5014
U R B A N I N S T I T U T E
www.urban.orgnd