Determinants of Housing Affordability among Young Europeans: A Quantitative Study and an Interactive Application for Decision Support

Housing affordability remains a major concern for young Europeans, as growing real-estate prices and limited financial accessibility increasingly challenge their capacity to purchase or rent a home. This paper combines quantitative analysis with digital innovation to explore and visualize the determinants of housing affordability across EU member states. Using Eurostat and World Bank datasets, we perform statistical modeling to identify the key factors influencing young adults’ ability to access housing-such as income, mortgage availability, employment stability, and governmental support mechanisms. Beyond the empirical findings, we propose a mobile application with an interactive map designed to make the analysis more accessible to the public. The platform enables users to explore housing costs across Europe, visualize affordability differences through dynamic charts, and complete a short questionnaire that suggests EU countries best aligned with their income, openness to mobility, and occupational profile. This integrated approach bridges data science and decision support, offering both researchers and citizens a tool to better understand and navigate the European housing market.