computing, broadband, etc the amount of money the average woman can make versus what one could make 50-60 years ago is enormous.

That wealth - combined with lower marriage and higher divorce rates - puts a lot of pressure/demand for housing. A lot more people need an independent place to live and they are earning the money to pay for it - and a lot more than was available to the average person 50 years ago.

The growth in US and global wealth over the last 50 years is enormous.