In It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey’s great ambition is not wealth or status. It is something far more ordinary and far more powerful: the ability for working families to afford a home, put down roots, and build a future together. Bedford Falls thrives not because of grand social programs, but because ordinary people can buy modest homes and start families. That lesson feels increasingly distant for many young Texans today.
Across the country, and increasingly in Texas, young adults are delaying marriage and having fewer children, not because they value family less, but because the economics of starting a family feel out of reach. A growing body of research shows that rising housing costs play a central role in these decisions. When housing becomes scarce and expensive, family formation becomes harder to plan, riskier to pursue, and easier to postpone.
Recent reporting and research underscore this reality. NPR has documented that young adults cite high housing costs as a primary reason for delaying or forgoing children altogether. Analyses from the American Enterprise Institute similarly find that housing affordability strongly shapes fertility decisions, particularly for middle-income families who want children but feel financially constrained. These trends are not speculative. They are measurable and increasingly consequential.
Economists have been pointing to this relationship for years. Research by Lisa Dettling and Melissa Kearney shows that rising home prices and limited access to homeownership reduce fertility, especially among younger adults and first-time parents. More recent work confirms that these effects have intensified as housing supply has failed to keep up with demand, pushing ownership further out of reach and increasing uncertainty for would-be parents.
These trends matter because housing is not just a consumption good. It is the physical foundation on which families form. People are far more likely to marry, have children, and stay rooted in a community where they can afford stable housing. When they cannot, family formation becomes a gamble. Many choose to wait. Others choose to have fewer children than they want. Some opt out entirely.
Texas has long benefited from a reputation for affordability, growth, and opportunity. But that advantage is not guaranteed. In fast-growing metros across the state, housing supply has struggled to keep pace with population growth. Zoning constraints, permitting delays, and local opposition to new housing have pushed prices higher and reduced options for young families. The result is not just higher rents or longer commutes, but also fewer children and delayed family formation.
George Bailey understood something that modern policy debates often miss. Housing affordability is central to flourishing families. You cannot separate the cost of homes from decisions about marriage, children, and community stability. Bedford Falls thrived because people could afford to start their lives in the community. If Texas wants to remain a place where families grow and children are welcomed, housing policy must reflect that priority. That means allowing more homes to be built, supporting a range of housing types, and removing unnecessary barriers that artificially restrict supply. These are not abstract market tweaks. They are decisions that shape whether young Texans feel confident enough to build a life.
It’s a Wonderful Life reminds us that strong communities are built one family at a time. Today, making that possible starts with something simple and essential: homes that families can afford.
