The County With the Least Expensive Housing Market in Every State

Special Report

Published: March 21, 2019 6:02 pm

Last Updated: February 17, 2020 4:57 pm

Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American dream — but for many, realizing that dream is prohibitively expensive.

Today, the typical American home has a price tag of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, according to industry advocacy group the National Realtors Association. While not every budget can accommodate housing expenses that high, affordable real estate is available in nearly every state.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed home value data from NAR as of the third quarter of 2018 for 3,119 counties and county equivalents nationwide to identify the county with the least expensive housing market in every state. Counties in each state were ranked based on median home value. In 34 states, there is at least one county where more than 50% of homes cost less than $100,000. Hawaii and Rhode Island are the only states where no county has a median home value below the national median of $235,000.

Home values are typically a reflection of what area residents can afford, and as a result, the counties on this list tend to be low-income areas. Some even rank as the poorest county in their state. Windham County, Connecticut, is the only county on this list with a higher median annual household income than the national median of $57,652 — and every county on this list has a lower median household income than its home state.

Housing prices in many of the counties on this list are driven down by high regional vacancy rates — indicative of low demand — and lacking public works infrastructure. In the majority of these counties, the share of households that lack access to basic telephone service exceeds the 2.3% national share. In 42 of these counties, the share of vacant homes exceeds the 12.2% national vacancy rate. Homes in these counties are also far more likely than most to be older, built before 1939.

Click here to see the county with the least expensive housing market in each state.
Click here to read our methodology.

Alabama: Lowndes County
> Median home value: $62,908
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $963
> Homes with no phone service access: 5.2%
> Vacant housing units: 16.5% of total
> Median household income: $29,785

See all stories featuring: Alabama

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Alaska: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
> Median home value: $83,696
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,080
> Homes with no phone service access: 8.9%
> Vacant housing units: 51.8% of total
> Median household income: $37,819

See all stories featuring: Alaska

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Arizona: Apache County
> Median home value: $51,798
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $943
> Homes with no phone service access: 10.6%
> Vacant housing units: 40.4% of total
> Median household income: $32,360

See all stories featuring: Arizona

Arkansas: Monroe County
> Median home value: $56,798
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $817
> Homes with no phone service access: 8.0%
> Vacant housing units: 25.2% of total
> Median household income: $31,584

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

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California: Modoc County
> Median home value: $152,797
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,007
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.3%
> Vacant housing units: 30.7% of total
> Median household income: $39,296

See all stories featuring: California

Colorado: Bent County
> Median home value: $86,780
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $898
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.3%
> Vacant housing units: 21.8% of total
> Median household income: $32,500

See all stories featuring: Colorado

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Connecticut: Windham County
> Median home value: $203,646
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,668
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.2%
> Vacant housing units: 10.2% of total
> Median household income: $62,553

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

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Delaware: Kent County
> Median home value: $230,026
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,460
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 8.8% of total
> Median household income: $57,647

See all stories featuring: Delaware

Florida: Liberty County
> Median home value: $67,559
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $843
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.5%
> Vacant housing units: 34.0% of total
> Median household income: $36,741

See all stories featuring: Florida

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Georgia: Wheeler County
> Median home value: $49,813
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $879
> Homes with no phone service access: 20.0%
> Vacant housing units: 24.7% of total
> Median household income: $28,490

See all stories featuring: Georgia

Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Median home value: $375,676
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,605
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.0%
> Vacant housing units: 22.3% of total
> Median household income: $56,395

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

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Idaho: Clark County
> Median home value: $108,629
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $884
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.0%
> Vacant housing units: 43.4% of total
> Median household income: $31,927

See all stories featuring: Idaho

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Illinois: Alexander County
> Median home value: $54,352
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $880
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.4%
> Vacant housing units: 39.0% of total
> Median household income: $31,014

See all stories featuring: Illinois

Indiana: Blackford County
> Median home value: $73,628
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $843
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 13.9% of total
> Median household income: $40,622

See all stories featuring: Indiana

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Iowa: Audubon County
> Median home value: $72,664
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $784
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 10.9% of total
> Median household income: $48,750

See all stories featuring: Iowa

Kansas: Elk County
> Median home value: $49,849
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $960
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 33.9% of total
> Median household income: $39,405

See all stories featuring: Kansas

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Kentucky: Leslie County
> Median home value: $51,550
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $772
> Homes with no phone service access: 6.4%
> Vacant housing units: 19.8% of total
> Median household income: $27,861

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

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Louisiana: Tensas Parish
> Median home value: $64,341
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.9%
> Vacant housing units: 43.2% of total
> Median household income: $21,906

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

Maine: Aroostook County
> Median home value: $104,510
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $982
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.9%
> Vacant housing units: 25.0% of total
> Median household income: $39,021

See all stories featuring: Maine

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Maryland: Allegany County
> Median home value: $113,677
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,060
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.6%
> Vacant housing units: 16.0% of total
> Median household income: $42,771

See all stories featuring: Maryland

Massachusetts: Hampden County
> Median home value: $223,466
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,531
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.1%
> Vacant housing units: 7.4% of total
> Median household income: $52,205

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

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Michigan: Ontonagon County
> Median home value: $75,085
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $883
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 48.1% of total
> Median household income: $36,073

See all stories featuring: Michigan

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Minnesota: Kittson County
> Median home value: $77,339
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,058
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.9%
> Vacant housing units: 27.7% of total
> Median household income: $52,304

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Mississippi: Issaquena County
> Median home value: $51,872
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,098
> Homes with no phone service access: 5.5%
> Vacant housing units: 19.4% of total
> Median household income: $25,609

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

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Missouri: Worth County
> Median home value: $63,683
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $904
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 30.4% of total
> Median household income: $48,214

See all stories featuring: Missouri

Montana: Blaine County
> Median home value: $94,014
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,156
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.9%
> Vacant housing units: 18.8% of total
> Median household income: $35,506

See all stories featuring: Montana

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Nebraska: Grant County
> Median home value: $58,588
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,102
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 29.0% of total
> Median household income: $45,833

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

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Nevada: Esmeralda County
> Median home value: $83,563
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.8%
> Vacant housing units: 50.2% of total
> Median household income: $39,405

See all stories featuring: Nevada

New Hampshire: Coos County
> Median home value: $132,002
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,208
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 35.4% of total
> Median household income: $45,386

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

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New Jersey: Cumberland County
> Median home value: $161,596
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,589
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 10.2% of total
> Median household income: $50,000

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

New Mexico: De Baca County
> Median home value: $69,412
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 41.7% of total
> Median household income: $31,439

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

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New York: Allegany County
> Median home value: $78,265
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $987
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.6%
> Vacant housing units: 31.2% of total
> Median household income: $45,359

See all stories featuring: New York

North Carolina: Robeson County
> Median home value: $82,505
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $964
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.4%
> Vacant housing units: 12.9% of total
> Median household income: $32,407

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

North Dakota: Benson County
> Median home value: $70,141
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,003
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.1%
> Vacant housing units: 24.4% of total
> Median household income: $44,500

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

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Ohio: Crawford County
> Median home value: $91,880
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $939
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.2%
> Vacant housing units: 11.2% of total
> Median household income: $41,726

See all stories featuring: Ohio

Oklahoma: Harmon County
> Median home value: $50,816
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $659
> Homes with no phone service access: 7.6%
> Vacant housing units: 22.7% of total
> Median household income: $38,264

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

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Oregon: Gilliam County
> Median home value: $121,982
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $989
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.6%
> Vacant housing units: 24.8% of total
> Median household income: $39,831

See all stories featuring: Oregon

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Pennsylvania: Cameron County
> Median home value: $76,958
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $957
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.0%
> Vacant housing units: 50.4% of total
> Median household income: $40,402

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median home value: $250,303
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,730
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.9%
> Vacant housing units: 10.3% of total
> Median household income: $52,530

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

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South Carolina: Allendale County
> Median home value: $55,511
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $791
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.1%
> Vacant housing units: 26.7% of total
> Median household income: $23,331

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

South Dakota: Todd County
> Median home value: $40,199
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $709
> Homes with no phone service access: 10.1%
> Vacant housing units: 12.2% of total
> Median household income: $26,285

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

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Tennessee: Lake County
> Median home value: $81,761
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $855
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.3%
> Vacant housing units: 17.0% of total
> Median household income: $31,993

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

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Texas: Cochran County
> Median home value: $35,767
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $802
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.0%
> Vacant housing units: 26.4% of total
> Median household income: $37,500

See all stories featuring: Texas

Utah: Carbon County
> Median home value: $142,387
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $987
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.3%
> Vacant housing units: 19.7% of total
> Median household income: $46,994

See all stories featuring: Utah

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Vermont: Essex County
> Median home value: $134,687
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,137
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.3%
> Vacant housing units: 46.9% of total
> Median household income: $38,767

See all stories featuring: Vermont

Virginia: Buchanan County
> Median home value: $73,552
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $946
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.5%
> Vacant housing units: 22.1% of total
> Median household income: $30,828

See all stories featuring: Virginia

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Washington: Garfield County
> Median home value: $160,790
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,059
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.2%
> Vacant housing units: 19.7% of total
> Median household income: $51,399

See all stories featuring: Washington

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West Virginia: McDowell County
> Median home value: $35,932
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $730
> Homes with no phone service access: 9.8%
> Vacant housing units: 31.4% of total
> Median household income: $25,595

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Median home value: $91,657
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,056
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.6%
> Vacant housing units: 41.9% of total
> Median household income: $38,080

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

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Wyoming: Hot Springs County
> Median home value: $154,348
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,181
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.4%
> Vacant housing units: 13.2% of total
> Median household income: $48,403

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

Methodology

To determine the county with the least expensive housing market in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median home prices in the 3,119 county and county-equivalents as aggregated by the National Association of Realtors for the third quarter of 2018. We also considered median household incomes, median monthly housing costs for mortgage holders, the share of occupied homes with no access to telephone service, and housing vacancy rates — all five-year estimates from the from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.

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