If You Rent, Brace Yourself — Homeowners Have 43x's More Wealth And It's Mostly From One Thing You're Paying For But Never Get: Equity

Core Insights - The wealth gap between homeowners and renters has significantly widened, with the typical homeowner's net worth at approximately $430,000 compared to around $10,000 for renters, resulting in a 43-to-1 difference [1] - The last official dataset from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) in 2022 indicated a median homeowner's net worth of $396,200 versus $10,400 for renters, reflecting a 38-to-1 difference at that time [2] Wealth Dynamics - Home equity serves as a wealth multiplier, with homeowners building equity over time, which can constitute 50% or more of a household's total net worth, thus driving household wealth [4] - Renters do not build equity through rent payments, which means they miss out on ownership, price appreciation, and leveraging assets for future investments [5] Historical Context - The homeowner-renter wealth gap has been significant for years, but the increase from 2019 to 2022 marked the largest three-year jump in median net worth differences recorded by the SCF, indicating accelerated homeowner wealth growth despite broader economic challenges [6]