The starter home was once a crucial milestone in a young adult's life. It was the first step of the American dream, a place of your own to lay your roots before setting your sights on loftier goals. It's also a thing of the past. 

Home ownership is all but a myth for younger generations, as skyrocketing prices work in conjunction with stagnating wages and inflation to make even the smallest houses simply too expensive. 

In 1970, the average home price in the United States was $23,400. That's about $192,000 in today's money. But today, the median home price is $419,200. Wages have hardly increased in comparison. 

Check out these 20 photos of starter homes through the decades. They look nice, right? Yes they do, and I WANT ONE!