not comparing apples to apples in many respects.

1. The average size of a home in the US has grown from 1,500 sf to 2,500 sf over the last 40 years.
2. Interest rates are at all time lows today and interest expense is a major factor in the real cost of a home.
3. Today's homes have significantly more features than homes from decades ago (in other words, you're getting more bells and whistles so it's going to cost more).

Also worth pointing out the size of homes around the world.
In France - 1,200 sf
Spain - 1,044 sf
UK - 818 sf
China (best estimates are 500 sf).

Part of the problem with higher prices today is baby boomers who control our governments pass crazy zoning laws that force (by either legislation or by economics) builders to build bigger homes. Legislators like to blame "overcrowding", but in most locales the zoning laws force 1st time home buyers to buy homes that are bigger than they need (and want in many cases).