Is the average person better or worse than earlier?
The biggest factor here is the timelines you are comparing. What is earlier? If it is pre-pandemic vs now, I would say the average person is worse now. If it is comparing 15th century vs now, I think the average person is better now.
But it is good that you also gave examples. Economically, I think we are currently worse. Families are able to buy houses and feed a family on a single income, while that is very difficult for a single person now. Physically, weight gain has been increasing, but health wise, I think we are better now. The advancement in medicine and technology keeps more people alive, and grow older. Vaccines help prevent diseases like Polio. Cancer is no longer untreatable, and we are able to save more lives as a whole.
There are also a lot of conveniences now that are affordable to the masses. People are able to afford more flights, get a car, cellphones, computers, etc. These things cost a lot before the 2000s. So while I think we are worse in some aspects, we are also better off in other things.
I would say "in living memory" - parents, grandparents etc.
My question is - is living longer a sign of wellbeing? I am not sure if elderly people are living a better life now. At least observationally from watching my grandfather, then my father, it has degraded. Should saving lives be the goal, or should quality of life factor in? As said, health is complex, which is why I went with obesity, as it is a bit more objective. Perhaps if the average person was less overweight, some of the diseases wouldn't be as bad also.
Convenience is also the likely candidate for a a lot of the problems we face too - definitely in the case of obesity. Then, flights, cars, cellphones, computers, are also empowering economically, but might be degrading our social lives, plus also putting us further into debt.
Interesting things to consider!