A new study finds that homeownership is affordable under its criteria in only three U.S. states, highlighting a widening divide between where buying a home is financially feasible and where it is not. According to the reporting, the analysis assesses affordability based on the relationship between home costs and household income, using an established threshold to determine whether residents can buy without taking on excessive financial burden. The study concludes that most states fall short of that benchmark, suggesting that housing prices relative to incomes make homeownership difficult for many households across large parts of the country. The coverage notes that affordability varies significantly by location, and that the results point to structural challenges such as high housing costs in many regions and/or lower income levels. While details of the methodology are not provided in the snippets, the consistent takeaway across outlets is that only a small number of states meet the study’s affordability standard, while the majority do not. The findings are presented as a call for closer attention to housing affordability policy and market conditions.