A large majority of Americans no longer think it’s affordable to raise children. According to data from the 2025 American Family Survey, 71% of participants said it’s not affordable for most people to raise children. This is a 13-percentage point increase from 2024 and a 20-percentage point increase from 2015.
Along similar lines, the most common barrier to having children cited by the survey’s participants was insufficient money (43% chose this as at least one of the barriers among a list of options presented). Adults ages 18 to 29 and those ages 30 to 44 were most likely to cite this as a reason for limiting the number of children they have or plan to have.
It’s not surprising Americans’ concerns about the costs of raising children have climbed recently. Inflation has been at historic highs for several years now, and despite declining from its peak in 2022 inflation remains well above pre-pandemic levels. And housing prices are off the charts, hitting an all-time high in 2023 and not declining much since then.
On a more upbeat note, perspectives about the cost of raising a family were more positive when American Family Survey participants were asked specifically about their own family situation, compared to perceptions about families in general. While 49% of respondents said the cost associated with raising a family ranked in the top three concerns for families in general, only 25% said it ranked as a top three concern for their own family. Although 25% is still a significant share of people, survey participants seemed to have a more negative view of family affordability conceptually than what is happening on the ground for them.
It’s also notable that while people commonly cite affordability as a barrier to having children—and not only in the American Family Survey—U.S. birth rates were declining even before inflation and housing prices were soaring. Even in strong economic times during the last decade, birth rates continued to fall.
The American Family Survey also shows that the share of people reporting that not having enough money was a reason for limiting the number of children they have or plan to have doesn’t vary much across income levels. Forty-seven percent of people with incomes under $40,000 cited insufficient funds as a barrier to having children, not much different from the 43% of participants with $40,000 to $80,000 and the 42% with incomes above $80,000 per year that said the same thing.
Median household income in the United States has increased steadily for several decades as well, even in the last few years, despite dropping some during the pandemic. Median incomes among men ages 25-29 and ages 30-35 specifically (since men are most likely to be the primary breadwinner in the home) have also trended upward in the last few years.
So, while high housing costs and inflation could explain recent declines in births, they probably aren’t a particularly good explanation for the longer-term trends of declining birth rates.
Other factors besides hard numbers are likely driving concerns about the costs associated with raising children though. Expectations about what is required to raise a child have increased over time. Parents feel more pressure to invest greater time and resources into their children than past generations of parents did.
Another factor is that opportunity costs associated with having children have also grown. During the past several decades educational and career opportunities have increased, particularly for women. And the greater economic well-being the country has experienced over time increases the freedom people have to do things like travel, pursue personal goals, and invest in self-improvement.
While the economy is certainly part of the story when it comes to adults feeling concerned about raising children, it will likely require more than just economic reforms to change perspectives and behaviors surrounding family formation. Cultural norms and infrastructures that make it easier to raise children will likely also be necessary.
For example, workplace norms that support employees in being able to spend time with their families, more realistic material expectations about what is needed to start and raise a family, laws and cultural norms that give parents more freedom in how they raise their children (e.g., Free-Range Kids laws), educational choice options for families, and communities that provide places for families to gather easily and affordably are also necessary components.
The last few years especially have increased economic pressure on families. Smart economic policies that drive down pressure on the housing market and help reduce inflation are crucial for families. Such economic reforms must be coupled with cultural reforms though if we hope to see change in perspectives and behaviors surrounding bearing and raising children.
