first of all, 40% isn’t “half”, and second of all, if I understand the survey, that “about 40%” is actually 37%, which is closer to a third than a half ... in other words, just more fake news ...
Where were the surveys taken? Together, my wife and I have a six figure income. Yet if we rented a place in Manhattan we couldn’t afford food and some other necessities.
Our same salaries in San Antonio and we can afford pretty much anything we want. And that includes carrying a mortgage if we chose.