Home Prices Rise and Birthrates Fall in Study of U.S. Counties

A sharp decline in birthrates in some hot U.S. housing markets could have something to do with those very price increases, according to a report by Zillow. The real estate data provider plotted a trend line from a correlation it observed between rising home prices and declining birthrates among women 25 to 29 years old. As people weigh the costs of having a kid against what it takes to buy in these markets, some may decide to put off starting a family or to have fewer kids or none at all, Zillow said.