Obviously a lot has to do with who keeps the kids, if there are any, which is typically the wife. Also there is the old notion that the wife is going to have a harder time affording a new place to live because she is less likely to have the income that a man does (or any income at all), which is less true today, but still at least somewhat true. Still, the bottom line is that assets are supposed to be split equitably, so even if the man doesn't get the house, he should get enough of the assets that he can afford a place as well as the wife. I believe in cases where the biggest share of the assets are tied up in the house the house is sold and the money divided.
Alimony is a more difficult issue.