U.S. Mayors See Housing Affordability as a Growing Problem

U.S. Mayors See Housing Affordability as a Growing Problem
News| June 23, 2025| Paul Bubny
Apartment Buildings

A majority of U.S. mayors believe housing affordability in their cities will worsen over the next year, according to a new survey of bipartisan mayors conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Capital One Insights Center. The survey includes responses from 68 cities in 30 states and the District of Columbia, representing a combined population of 20 million.

Although many mayors are pursuing local strategies such as land use reforms and new funding tools to address this issue, they also pointed to broader economic conditions as a contributing factor. Two-thirds said national economic trends are worsening affordability in their communities.

The most common challenges mayors cite are the direct costs of housing development—materials, labor, and land—along with the ability to secure private or federal funding. Looking ahead, mayors identified several federal-level issues that could further strain their efforts, with most citing changes to federal policy and programs.

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