The first is housing affordability in general: whether typical incomes in an area can reasonably cover typical rents or mortgage repayments. The common benchmark is spending no more than 30% of a household's income on housing, past which it's considered housing stress.
The second is affordable housing as a specific category of homes: dwellings delivered below market rate, often through community housing providers, government programs, or planning requirements on new developments, aimed at people the private market can't adequately house at all. A region can have relatively affordable market rents and still have a severe shortage of the second kind. Both matter, and they need different solutions.
Figures from the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council's 2025 State of the Housing System report.
The dark line marks the 30% affordability benchmark. The median household is already past it, a record high.
Forecast to fall roughly 262,000 dwellings short of the national target.
The average time it now takes to save a 20% deposit on a home, nationally.
Want our take on what would actually help close this gap? Read our full piece on The Doorway.
Enter your numbers below to see where you sit against the 30% benchmark. Nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.
Enter both numbers to see where you sit against the 30% affordability benchmark (the dark line marks 30%).
This is a simple personal guide using the common 30% benchmark, not a formal assessment. If housing costs are putting real pressure on you, our team is happy to talk through your options.