I think you’re proving my point. If a blue collar job is 60k, multiply it by two. Since most households now have two incomes, housing prices reflect what those families are willing to pay. If you choose to only have one income (as we do), plan on not being able to afford many things - their prices are set by the demand of two income households.
On a brighter note, the percentage of income that families pay for energy (even gasoline) has dropped tremendously since 1968...but of course that is about to change.
To put things more in perspective, if a 22k house in 1968 is now 400k, thats a 7.72% increase in value every year. The blue collar worker is way behind, if he goes from 10k to 60k (4.72% yearly growth). However, if you look at 10k to 120k (where both he and she are now working), its much closer at 6.60% yearly growth in salary. Household incomes aren’t falling that far behind (and besides I think people on Long Island make more than 60k)....the household income is now just split between two people.