A surge in demand for homes in the United States, in addition to limited housing inventory, has created a sellers market unlike anything seen in recent memory. Homes are now selling faster than ever before — and also for more money than ever before.
While rapidly rising housing prices may discourage many would-be buyers, there are parts of the country where home values are relatively low and affordable to a wider range of budgets.
Using data on median home value from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least expensive towns to buy a home. We included cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 in our analysis. Nearly half of the towns on this list are located in Midwestern states — including nine in Michigan alone, and another eight in Illinois.
Home values in a given area are often a reflection of what residents can afford, and in every town on this list, the median household income is at least $10,000 lower than the $62,843 that the typical American household earns annually. Here is a look at the poorest town in every state.
Despite the lower incomes, home values in these areas are often low enough to make it less likely that buyers would need to rely on a mortgage. In every town on this list, the share of homeowners who are financing with a mortgage is below the 62.7% share of homeowners nationwide. This is the American city with the most foreclosures.
Click here to see the least expensive towns to buy a home.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
50. Inkster, Michigan
> Median home value: $48,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,006 — 1,613th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 42.4% — 761st lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 43.2% — 431st lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $32,014 — 530th lowest of 8,486 towns
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49. Cherryvale, Kansas
> Median home value: $48,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $862 — 439th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.0% — 1,365th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.5% — 4,012th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $37,826 — 1,190th lowest of 8,486 towns
48. Coaldale (Schuylkill County), Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $48,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $859 — 422nd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.4% — 2,070th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 73.5% — 2,990th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $36,953 — 1,103rd lowest of 8,486 towns
47. Country Squire Lakes, Indiana
> Median home value: $48,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $985 — 1,426th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 51.9% — 1,972nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 71.3% — 3,453rd highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $37,250 — 1,134th lowest of 8,486 towns
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46. K. I. Sawyer, Michigan
> Median home value: $48,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $679 — 16th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.2% — 2,667th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 21.7% — 18th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $32,598 — 606th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
45. McKeesport, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $48,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $808 — 198th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.3% — 1,419th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 50.3% — 1,007th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $29,094 — 286th lowest of 8,486 towns
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44. Centreville, Illinois
> Median home value: $47,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $968 — 1,259th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 40.2% — 597th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 45.4% — 559th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $21,370 — 33rd lowest of 8,486 towns
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43. Cahokia, Illinois
> Median home value: $47,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $946 — 1,048th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.6% — 2,746th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 49.0% — 869th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $35,663 — 932nd lowest of 8,486 towns
42. Castle Point, Missouri
> Median home value: $47,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,042 — 1,887th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.5% — 1,301st lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 41.4% — 339th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Median household income: $30,616 — 389th lowest of 8,486 towns
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41. Okemah, Oklahoma
> Median home value: $47,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $733 — 52nd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 44.3% — 941st lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 45.8% — 593rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $33,942 — 733rd lowest of 8,486 towns
40. Tuba City, Arizona
> Median home value: $47,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $739 — 56th lowest of 8,484 towns
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 16.7% — 21st lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 60.9% — 2,867th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $47,119 — 2,690th lowest of 8,486 towns
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39. Cumberland, Kentucky
> Median home value: $47,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $763 — 82nd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 34.8% — 306th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 52.2% — 1,251st lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $19,250 — 13th lowest of 8,486 towns
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38. Raymondville, Texas
> Median home value: $47,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $952 — 1,107th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 21.7% — 47th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.6% — 3,986th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $29,750 — 326th lowest of 8,486 towns
37. Ironwood, Michigan
> Median home value: $47,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $796 — 167th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.4% — 685th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.8% — 3,933rd highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $31,351 — 445th lowest of 8,486 towns
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36. Oaklawn-Sunview, Kansas
> Median home value: $46,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $921 — 857th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 26.8% — 91st lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 39.8% — 273rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,601 — 260th lowest of 8,486 towns
35. Lansford, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $45,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $855 — 400th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 44.1% — 911th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 58.3% — 2,286th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $34,426 — 790th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
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34. Highland Park, Michigan
> Median home value: $45,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,030 — 1,791st lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.6% — 124th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 36.9% — 190th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $18,474 — 8th lowest of 8,486 towns
33. Washington Park, Illinois
> Median home value: $45,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $827 — 254th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.8% — 258th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 49.1% — 882nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $21,821 — 37th lowest of 8,486 towns
32. Madison, Illinois
> Median home value: $44,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $827 — 254th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.9% — 719th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 50.4% — 1,018th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $30,316 — 360th lowest of 8,486 towns
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31. Floydada, Texas
> Median home value: $44,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $856 — 405th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.2% — 114th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 78.7% — 2,106th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $43,137 — 2,039th lowest of 8,486 towns
30. Wellington, Texas
> Median home value: $44,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $822 — 232nd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 25.5% — 79th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 72.5% — 3,212th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $34,036 — 740th lowest of 8,486 towns
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29. Eldorado, Illinois
> Median home value: $44,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $696 — 24th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.2% — 138th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 72.5% — 3,212th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $38,721 — 1,315th lowest of 8,486 towns
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28. Muskegon Heights, Michigan
> Median home value: $43,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $761 — 80th lowest of 8,484 towns
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 39.4% — 550th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 48.8% — 849th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $30,795 — 399th lowest of 8,486 towns
27. Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $43,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $794 — 158th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 50.6% — 1,744th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 63.2% — 3,338th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $34,628 — 808th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
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26. Clairton, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $43,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $937 — 981st lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.6% — 2,513th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 57.2% — 2,094th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $37,282 — 1,138th lowest of 8,486 towns
25. Duquesne, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $42,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $781 — 123rd lowest of 8,484 towns
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.1% — 1,377th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 39.0% — 252nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $29,844 — 330th lowest of 8,486 towns
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24. Winters, Texas
> Median home value: $42,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $964 — 1,225th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.4% — 119th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 56.3% — 1,924th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $34,256 — 770th lowest of 8,486 towns
23. Ecorse, Michigan
> Median home value: $42,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $920 — 845th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.5% — 143rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 58.8% — 2,393rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,991 — 277th lowest of 8,486 towns
22. Venice, Illinois
> Median home value: $41,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $747 — 64th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.5% — 246th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 44.1% — 479th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $27,981 — 235th lowest of 8,486 towns
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21. West Hill, Ohio
> Median home value: $41,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $671 — 9th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.3% — 2,682nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 65.1% — 3,750th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $24,918 — 104th lowest of 8,486 towns
20. Richwood, West Virginia
> Median home value: $41,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $597 — 2nd lowest of 8,484 towns
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 23.6% — 58th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 68.7% — 3,970th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,641 — 263rd lowest of 8,486 towns
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19. Desert Edge, California
> Median home value: $41,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,346 — 4,204th highest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 11.0% — 4th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 81.0% — 1,762nd highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $31,604 — 480th lowest of 8,486 towns
18. North Braddock, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $40,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $754 — 70th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 39.0% — 527th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 52.0% — 1,229th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $32,272 — 568th lowest of 8,486 towns
17. Quanah, Texas
> Median home value: $39,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $853 — 388th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.5% — 143rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 62.7% — 3,243rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $37,308 — 1,141st lowest of 8,486 towns
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16. Charleroi, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $39,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $841 — 317th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 40.4% — 611th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 55.5% — 1,785th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $34,866 — 834th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
15. Buena Vista, Michigan
> Median home value: $39,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $778 — 114th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.2% — 159th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 52.5% — 1,294th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $30,735 — 396th lowest of 8,486 towns
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14. Clarksville, Texas
> Median home value: $39,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $490 — 1st lowest of 8,484 towns
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.6% — 148th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 60.8% — 2,843rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $32,128 — 544th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
13. Allendale, South Carolina
> Median home value: $38,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $818 — 220th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 27.6% — 99th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 56.8% — 2,006th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $19,463 — 15th lowest of 8,486 towns
12. Johnstown, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $38,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $787 — 133rd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 32.8% — 223rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 48.1% — 780th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $24,561 — 95th lowest of 8,486 towns
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11. Electra, Texas
> Median home value: $38,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $860 — 427th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.8% — 258th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 70.6% — 3,587th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $30,484 — 376th lowest of 8,486 towns
10. Ranger, Texas
> Median home value: $37,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $986 — 1,436th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 16.6% — 20th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 64.6% — 3,634th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $29,398 — 298th lowest of 8,486 towns
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9. Shamokin, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $36,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $802 — 183rd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.0% — 227th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 54.6% — 1,609th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,737 — 268th lowest of 8,486 towns
8. River Rouge, Michigan
> Median home value: $36,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $972 — 1,302nd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 36.4% — 374th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 54.9% — 1,666th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $25,517 — 124th lowest of 8,486 towns
7. Glasgow Village, Missouri
> Median home value: $30,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $864 — 454th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.7% — 1,325th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 25.1% — 40th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Median household income: $33,594 — 700th lowest of 8,486 towns (tied)
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6. Zephyrhills South, Florida
> Median home value: $30,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $963 — 1,213th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 18.4% — 27th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 77.3% — 2,344th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $33,923 — 729th lowest of 8,486 towns
5. Beecher, Michigan
> Median home value: $29,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $934 — 953rd lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 38.4% — 492nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 55.0% — 1,688th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,272 — 244th lowest of 8,486 towns
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4. Cairo, Illinois
> Median home value: $28,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,077 — 2,167th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.2% — 138th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.1% — 4,095th highest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $26,439 — 155th lowest of 8,486 towns
3. Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $28,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $767 — 90th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 27.1% — 94th lowest of 8,488 towns
> Homeownership rate: 60.7% — 2,822nd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $28,427 — 249th lowest of 8,486 towns
2. Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $27,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $902 — 713th lowest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.1% — 156th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 61.0% — 2,887th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $32,669 — 613th lowest of 8,486 towns
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1. Park City, Illinois
> Median home value: $14,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,385 — 3,975th highest of 8,484 towns (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 34.4% — 283rd lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 47.0% — 687th lowest of 8,488 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $51,082 — 3,336th lowest of 8,486 towns
Methodology
To determine the most affordable towns to buy a home in the nation, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median owner-occupied home values from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
We used Census “place” geographies — a category that includes 29,573 incorporated legal entities and Census-designated statistical entities. Of those, 29,320 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people — and 13,332 of the places fell within these thresholds.
Towns were excluded if owner-occupied median home values were not available in the 2019 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a town’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a town’s owner-occupied median home value was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all towns’ owner-occupied median home values. We similarly excluded towns that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
The remaining 8,488 places were ranked based on their owner-occupied median home values. To break ties, we used median monthly housing costs with a mortgage, deeming the town with the lower monthly cost to be the least expensive.
Additional information on median monthly housing costs with a mortgage, the share of owner-occupied housing units that have a mortgage, rates of homeownership, and median household income are also five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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