Boston Gal's Open Wallet

All major categories of homeowner expenses increased faster than incomes between 1996 and 2006, the center reported in "Stretched Thin: The Impact of Rising Housing Expenses on America's Owners and Renters."

While mortgage payments increased 46% during those 10 years, utilities increased 43%, property taxes increased 66% and property insurance increased 83%, according to the study. But homeowner incomes increased just about 36%.

Renters weren't better off: Rents increased by 51% during the period, but renter incomes increased about 31%. Landlords are facing some of the increased costs that homeowners are, including higher insurance costs, and are passing on the increases through higher rents, said Maya Brennan, co-author of the report, which was released Wednesday.

Given the rising costs of heating oil, natural gas and gasoline since 2006, families likely have stretched their household budgets even more in the past couple of years, the center reported.