[quote=CA renter] Wages for the types of jobs we had have gone nowhere in that time. Those wages have gone up *maybe* 40%-60% since then.[/quote]
Not sure when you went to college, but in order for wage to gone up only 40-60%, according to the minimum wage data, you must be going to college around mid 90s, correct? Here’s the historical data: http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/federal-minimum-wage-history/
Back in the mid 90s, a 2/2 apartment in Mira was going for ~$1000/month. Today, that SAME 2/2 is going for ~$1350/month. So, income has gone up 40-60% while rent has gone up ~35%. I know the rent in mid 90s because I know someone who was renting that same 2/2 apartment in 1995.