Birth rates fall most where home prices rise fastest

“Birth rates are dropping most in counties with the fastest-appreciating home values,” says Zillow.com.

Reason: “Quickly rising home prices are likely contributing to couples deciding to hold off having kids — most want to be financially stable before becomiing parents,” says the real estate research firm.

San Diego and Los Angeles are the best examples, says Zillow. In 2016 in San Diego, 1,148 fewer babies were born than expected. In Los Angeles, the shortfall was 2,588 babies. Between 2010 and 2016, San Diego home prices rose 34 percent and Los Angeles prices rose 31 percent. The drop in the birth rate in those years was 19 percent in San Diego and 17 percent in Los Angeles.