For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis, the election, and more, subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily newsletter.





A new study from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School finds that women homeowners are an average of 12 pounds heavier than renters. They’re also more aggravated and spend less time socializing.

Thing is, it’s hard to tell why. Figuring it out, the article notes, presents a chicken-and-egg type problem, since two lines of homeowner reasoning are possible:

a) Now that I’ve gone and bought a house, I may as well make owning my house worthwhile by maxing and relaxing in it as much as humanly possible.

b) I really like maxing and relaxing. Much more than, say, going for a walk with my friends. Gosh, it’d be great to have my very own M&R temple.

Previous studies have shown that homeowners are happier than renters, but they didn’t control for external factors, like whether or not the subjects have kids. This study did.

Have you recently switched from renting to owning or vice versa? What’s it like?

HT @aarieff.