My parents bought their house in our midwest provincial city suburb for $100k in 1990. I believe it would probably go for around $275k. It would be $221k according to inflation.

It will be different for everyone. Not sure if you can spot a trend.

The home I lived in the first 10 years of my life was a 3br 1ba 900sq ft home with 5 people. We then moved to a larger home, 4br 2ba 1,800sq ft home. Our new home we'll be moving into next month (DH, myself and DC) is 3,200 sq ft, 4br 3ba with an office.

Cost wise the first house is currently worth $160k, my parents place is $175k, and we're building our home for $450k.

I grew up middle class, neither of my parents had college degrees. I'm now UMC, went to grad school.

I grew up in Southern California. Our house when I was in HS is bigger than my rowhouse in NW DC. It was built in 1966.

They bought it for $250K in 1998, sold it for $540K in 2013. Zillow says it's "worth" $986K.

We bought our NW DC rowhouse for $915K in 2017. The Zillow estimate is $1.3 million.

My house is an upgrade from my childhood home in that it is in a much nicer and upscale neighborhood. But the house itself is crappier, older, and less amenities.

I grew up poor and am now middle class. My home is just a little nicer than my childhood home, which was small but cute and always nicely kept up. Feel completely grateful for what I have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

I think that attitude is outdated anywhere— even in suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in both dc and a close-in DC suburb and only see kids who are alone who are older teenagers in both. Very few 10 years running wild (as I did!)

My neigborhood is a double cul de sac in McLean, and kids age between 3-13 run pretty wild here... they play in the cul de sac, and in each others' front yards, back lawns, driveways, our common area of a pond and some trails... sometimes when a group of loud boys playing man hunt and crossing our backyard, I kind of wish they can be a bit more disciplined. But, kids are kids. It's a priviledge to live in a place where I can basically sit at home whole day while my kids play with friends in the neigbhorhood without my supervision.

Yeah same. Im in the further out suburbs in Reston, but the yards are never used. The common areas, however, like common areas, trails, cul de sacs, etc are always having kids in and out. It’s rather nice.

Same in our neighborhood in Gaithersburg. We have a playground right behind our house and there are always kids out there. It’s great.

I’m gen x not millennial…I was about 10 yrs older than my parents were when they bought their forever home, and we left DC for Anne Arundel County, MD to get it - in our late 40s with kids 7 & 9 yrs old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

I think that attitude is outdated anywhere— even in suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in both dc and a close-in DC suburb and only see kids who are alone who are older teenagers in both. Very few 10 years running wild (as I did!)

My neigborhood is a double cul de sac in McLean, and kids age between 3-13 run pretty wild here... they play in the cul de sac, and in each others' front yards, back lawns, driveways, our common area of a pond and some trails... sometimes when a group of loud boys playing man hunt and crossing our backyard, I kind of wish they can be a bit more disciplined. But, kids are kids. It's a priviledge to live in a place where I can basically sit at home whole day while my kids play with friends in the neigbhorhood without my supervision.

Where is that? I am familiar with Mclean and haven't notice kids playing around in any areas, not kids the age you describe. I see people walking dogs and older teens, little kids are usually at the public playgrounds or doing sports in outdoor settings - the only times I see smaller kids together

I grew up in Wisconsin. I basically have the same size house as I grew up in for my family...except that the DC version costs about $600k more

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

I think that attitude is outdated anywhere— even in suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in both dc and a close-in DC suburb and only see kids who are alone who are older teenagers in both. Very few 10 years running wild (as I did!)

My neigborhood is a double cul de sac in McLean, and kids age between 3-13 run pretty wild here... they play in the cul de sac, and in each others' front yards, back lawns, driveways, our common area of a pond and some trails... sometimes when a group of loud boys playing man hunt and crossing our backyard, I kind of wish they can be a bit more disciplined. But, kids are kids. It's a priviledge to live in a place where I can basically sit at home whole day while my kids play with friends in the neigbhorhood without my supervision.

Yeah same. Im in the further out suburbs in Reston, but the yards are never used. The common areas, however, like common areas, trails, cul de sacs, etc are always having kids in and out. It’s rather nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

I think that attitude is outdated anywhere— even in suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in both dc and a close-in DC suburb and only see kids who are alone who are older teenagers in both. Very few 10 years running wild (as I did!)

My neigborhood is a double cul de sac in McLean, and kids age between 3-13 run pretty wild here... they play in the cul de sac, and in each others' front yards, back lawns, driveways, our common area of a pond and some trails... sometimes when a group of loud boys playing man hunt and crossing our backyard, I kind of wish they can be a bit more disciplined. But, kids are kids. It's a priviledge to live in a place where I can basically sit at home whole day while my kids play with friends in the neigbhorhood without my supervision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

I think that attitude is outdated anywhere— even in suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in both dc and a close-in DC suburb and only see kids who are alone who are older teenagers in both. Very few 10 years running wild (as I did!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

You are making me feel better! We have a patio in a row house near a park and i am always feeling guilty my kids can't go outside and play whenever they want without adult supervision. You know, the "play outside while my makes dinner" thing. They're old enough to not kill themselves in a fenced yard, but not old enough to go to the park alone.

Anonymous wrote:How do they compare? I am struggling coming to terms with the fact that our likely forever home is older, smaller by 1k sq ft (more for DH), and in a less desirable neighborhood than the home I grew up in. We make way more than either set of parents ever did and they were in this area as well, but of course housing prices have rapidly outpaced income so comparable homes to those we grew up in are hundreds of thousands out of reach for us. What about you?

Grew up in a 2200 sq ft Cape Cod in a rural area with 3 acres, woods, and a creek. It was wonderful as a small child, confining as a teenager, and I was excited to move out for job opportunities beyond my parents' company (the main employer besides retail and local governments).

Now I live in a 1500 sq foot townhome with a postal stamp of a yard. I had hoped it would be a starter home since i miss having a yard big enough for hanging out, playing, and hosting, but given the price runups of the last couple years, I think we're stuck. It's not as nice as my parents' home by basically any measure. My kids love visiting, it's like a resort to them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is probably the same square footage but it’s a tall skinny townhouse with no yard versus a single story house on a quarter acre. It’s impossible to compare but I think we did ok. Eventually I would love a yard but I'm happy with this is my 30s.

I went from a townhouse to a SFH with a small yard last year (a pandemic purchase so we would have outdoors space for our kids). I have to say, so far with toddlers, the yard is overrated. It's just something to mow and weed. Still, I love the house and deck and patio, so I'm happy overall, but I could do without so much yard.

For us: A nearby park >>> big lawn. We got a row house with a big deck and patio near a park. We did a yard once, never again.

+1

People get oversold on the big yard thing until they realize it’s more work on the adults than it is for the kids to play. They will go to their friends house or stay inside, not play out in the backyard. You’ll use that yard a few times a year. No thanks.

I hate grass and backyards. My backyard is all deck. My kids never cared. They prefer parks with other kids always.