As the United States closes in on the November election, housing is quickly becoming a top issue for voters, second only to rising inflation worries. For 18 – 29-year-olds, it ranks with inflation and health care as their main worries, according to a recent NPR article. Biden and Trump are addressing the issue in different ways. Biden is speaking to billions of dollars his administration has offered in rental assistance during the pandemic and the incentives provided to increase new construction. In his own words, “The bottom line to lower housing costs for good is to build, build, build.” Both Biden and Trump agree that opening federal land in some areas for new builds is a viable option. Trump has addressed his opposition to loosening zoning laws for rental property and the need to deal with the bigger issue of illegal immigration and its impact on housing costs. He also looks to cut funds to affordable housing programs, which some argue would only increase the housing and homelessness problem the nation is facing.
San Francisco and New York have traditionally ranked as “unaffordable” for most, but they are no longer standing alone. Americans face median housing prices at 6 times what they were 20 years ago. Historically, rural and interior areas of the country have been more affordable, but populations flocking to these areas have driven up the cost even in these normally price-conscious places. In a post-pandemic world, more individuals work from home, placing more pressure on an already stressed housing market. All of these factors come into play for many first-time homebuyers who lack the cash for a full cash offer, can’t start with home equity of their first home to roll into a new home purchase, and are facing mounting interest rates, making a monthly mortgage payment too high.
Where can a first-time homebuyer with a modest income and a reasonable credit score buy a low-cost home in America? According to data reviewed by 24/7 Wall St. from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, there are 19 cities with median home values of less than $125,000. These include certain cities in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — as 12 of the 19 cities where median home values are lower than $125,000 are located in these three states.
24/7 Wall St. ranked only census-designated places, cities, and towns with at least 50,000 residents that had relevant data. All data comes from the ACS except the percent of population change, which we calculated using ACS data. The median home value in the 19 cities on the list ranges from $123,400 in Harlingen, Texas, to just $48,700 in Flint, Michigan, where nearly 83% of homes are worth less than $100,000.
What’s Important About Affordable Housing?
America is not alone in struggling with affordable housing; this is an issue faced by many countries around the world. There is not an easy way to correct or help the problem, but there does seem to be some relief coming for Americans. Many of the laws in place are localized, and these governments are seeing the need for change to move forward. Alleviating pressure from zoning laws, allowing for new construction, and increasing affordable rental options all play a role in changing the course of this crisis.
Here are cities where most homes are priced under $125,000.
19. Harlingen, Texas
- Median home value, 2022: $123,400
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 50.8% — 17 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 38.5% — 16 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $50,166 — 439 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: 9.5% — 896 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 71,669
18. Lansing, Michigan
- Median home value, 2022: $122,400
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 51.9% — 16 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 33.5% — 23 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $48,962 — 429 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -2.2% — 513 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 112,963
17. Lawton, Oklahoma
- Median home value, 2022: $121,100
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 53.2% — 15 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 32.9% — 27 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $50,969 — 451 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -2.3% — 504 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 91,553
16. Lorain, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $120,200
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 53.9% — 14 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 33.4% — 25 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $46,592 — 416 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: 2.4% — 700 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 65,366
15. Jackson, Mississippi
- Median home value, 2022: $114,700
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 54.8% — 13 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 43.2% — 11 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $40,631 — 393 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -12.7% — 386 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 146,019
14. Akron, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $113,100
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 57.4% — 11 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 41.8% — 12 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $45,534 — 413 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -4.7% — 435 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 188,498
13. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Median home value, 2022: $111,900
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 59.5% — 10 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 41.3% — 13 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $43,496 — 400 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: 7.3% — 867 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 94,860
12. Albany, Georgia
- Median home value, 2022: $111,500
- Homes worth less than $125,000: N/A — #N/A most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: N/A — #N/A most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $39,422 — 392 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -5.1% — 427 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 67,922
11. Toledo, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $106,400
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 60.8% — 8 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 46.3% — 10 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $47,365 — 420 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -3.7% — 460 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 266,289
10. Cleveland, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $102,500
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 63.0% — 7 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 48.5% — 9 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $37,351 — 390 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -6.2% — 412 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 361,654
9. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Median home value, 2022: $98,200
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 66.7% — 5 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 51.4% — 8 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $43,839 — 406 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -4.0% — 451 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 93,517
8. Dayton, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $97,700
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 65.6% — 6 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 52.1% — 7 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $43,780 — 405 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -3.2% — 469 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 135,938
7. Camden, New Jersey
- Median home value, 2022: $94,200
- Homes worth less than $125,000: N/A — #N/A most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: N/A — #N/A most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $37,075 — 389 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -4.7% — 434 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 70,998
5. Muncie, Indiana
- Median home value, 2022: $93,900
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 60.1% — 9 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 52.8% — 5 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $40,968 — 395 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -4.8% — 431 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 65,160
5. Gary, Indiana
- Median home value, 2022: $93,900
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 56.7% — 12 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 52.5% — 6 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $36,153 — 387 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -11.4% — 388 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 67,742
4. Decatur, Illinois
- Median home value, 2022: $92,200
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 67.5% — 4 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.7% — 4 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $49,714 — 435 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: 2.6% — 709 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 70,396
3. Canton, Ohio
- Median home value, 2022: $89,500
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 71.3% — 3 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.9% — 3 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $40,711 — 394 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -1.7% — 533 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 69,666
2. Detroit, Michigan
- Median home value, 2022: $83,600
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 71.4% — 2 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 60.8% — 2 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $36,453 — 388 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -7.8% — 398 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 620,410
1. Flint, Michigan
- Median home value, 2022: $48,700
- Homes worth less than $125,000: 88.9% — 1 most out of 225 cities
- Homes worth less than $100,000: 82.9% — 1 most out of 225 cities
- Median household income, 2022: $33,036 — 386 lowest of 640 cities
- 5-year population change: -17.2% — 384 lowest change of 598 cities
- Population, 2022: 79,865
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