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As many are priced out of buying, the renter-owner wealth gap is wider than ever

NPR | By Jennifer Ludden
Published July 28, 2026 at 3:14 PM CDT
Jay Washington, 38, stands for a portrait at his residence in Athens, Ga., earlier this month. Washington would like to own a home, but after a cycle of underemployment, he's not sure whether he'll ever be able to.
Alyssa Pointer for NPR
Jay Washington, 38, stands for a portrait at his residence in Athens, Ga., earlier this month. Washington would like to own a home, but after a cycle of underemployment, he's not sure whether he'll ever be able to.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Jennifer Ludden
NPR National Correspondent Jennifer Ludden covers economic inequality, exploring systemic disparities in housing, food insecurity and wealth.
See stories by Jennifer Ludden