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. In the vast majority of states, there is at least one metro area where the typical home costs less than the national median home value of $240,500.
Using data on median home value from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least expensive metropolitan areas to buy a home in every state. It is important to note that Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have only one metropolitan area each, and as a result, these metro areas rank as the least expensive place to buy a home by default only.
Home values in a given area are often a reflection of what residents can afford, and in nearly every metro area on this list, the median household income is lower than it is across the state as a whole. Here is a look at the poorest city 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 well over half of the metro areas on this list, the share of homeowners who are financing with a mortgage is below the comparable share of homeowners statewide. This is the American city with the most foreclosures.
Click here to see the least expensive metro area to buy a home in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Anniston-Oxford
> Median home value: $121,600 (Alabama: $154,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,052 (Alabama: $1,172)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.7% (Alabama: 55.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.5% (Alabama: 68.8%)
> Median household income: $48,156 (Alabama: $51,734)
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Alaska: Fairbanks
> Median home value: $259,800 (Alaska: $281,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,929 (Alaska: $1,882)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: N/A (Alaska: 60.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 61.9% (Alaska: 64.7%)
> Median household income: $72,065 (Alaska: $75,463)
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Arizona: Yuma
> Median home value: $139,100 (Arizona: $255,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,068 (Arizona: $1,457)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.8% (Arizona: 62.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.3% (Arizona: 65.3%)
> Median household income: $46,419 (Arizona: $62,055)
Arkansas: Pine Bluff
> Median home value: $83,500 (Arkansas: $136,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $975 (Arkansas: $1,094)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.4% (Arkansas: 53.0%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.7% (Arkansas: 65.5%)
> Median household income: $41,541 (Arkansas: $48,952)
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California: El Centro
> Median home value: $229,600 (California: $568,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,432 (California: $2,421)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 64.6% (California: 69.0%)
> Homeownership rate: 55.5% (California: 54.9%)
> Median household income: $48,472 (California: $80,440)
Colorado: Pueblo
> Median home value: $189,600 (Colorado: $394,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,219 (Colorado: $1,845)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 64.8% (Colorado: 70.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.1% (Colorado: 65.9%)
> Median household income: $51,276 (Colorado: $77,127)
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Connecticut: New Haven-Milford
> Median home value: $251,500 (Connecticut: $280,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,974 (Connecticut: $2,087)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 64.7% (Connecticut: 66.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 60.5% (Connecticut: 65.0%)
> Median household income: $69,751 (Connecticut: $78,833)
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Delaware: Dover*
> Median home value: $225,200 (Delaware: $261,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,396 (Delaware: $1,557)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 65.0% (Delaware: 65.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.6% (Delaware: 70.3%)
> Median household income: $58,001 (Delaware: $70,176)
*Because Dover is the only eligible metro in Delaware, it is the most affordable metro to buy a home by default.
Florida: Sebring-Avon Park
> Median home value: $144,900 (Florida: $245,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,039 (Florida: $1,530)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 35.0% (Florida: 56.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 80.0% (Florida: 66.2%)
> Median household income: $48,698 (Florida: $59,227)
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Georgia: Macon-Bibb County
> Median home value: $125,200 (Georgia: $202,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,209 (Georgia: $1,450)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.6% (Georgia: 64.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 62.8% (Georgia: 64.1%)
> Median household income: $48,435 (Georgia: $61,980)
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> Median home value: $697,900 (Hawaii: $669,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,432 (Hawaii: $2,472)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 65.9% (Hawaii: 64.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 60.8% (Hawaii: 60.2%)
> Median household income: $80,754 (Hawaii: $83,102)
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Idaho: Pocatello
> Median home value: $171,400 (Idaho: $255,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,110 (Idaho: $1,306)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.9% (Idaho: 64.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 68.0% (Idaho: 71.6%)
> Median household income: $51,612 (Idaho: $60,999)
Illinois: Danville
> Median home value: $80,100 (Illinois: $209,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $923 (Illinois: $1,688)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.2% (Illinois: 62.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.6% (Illinois: 66.0%)
> Median household income: $43,111 (Illinois: $69,187)
Indiana: Terre Haute
> Median home value: $101,000 (Indiana: $156,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $971 (Indiana: $1,146)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.0% (Indiana: 65.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 68.7% (Indiana: 69.3%)
> Median household income: $50,129 (Indiana: $57,603)
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Iowa: Sioux City
> Median home value: $138,400 (Iowa: $158,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,164 (Iowa: $1,266)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.0% (Iowa: 59.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.4% (Iowa: 70.5%)
> Median household income: $60,132 (Iowa: $61,691)
Kansas: Topeka
> Median home value: $138,600 (Kansas: $163,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,194 (Kansas: $1,387)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.1% (Kansas: 57.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 69.3% (Kansas: 66.5%)
> Median household income: $59,567 (Kansas: $62,087)
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Kentucky: Owensboro
> Median home value: $140,900 (Kentucky: $151,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,164 (Kentucky: $1,179)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.8% (Kentucky: 56.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.1% (Kentucky: 67.0%)
> Median household income: $52,201 (Kentucky: $52,295)
Louisiana: Monroe
> Median home value: $128,200 (Louisiana: $172,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,111 (Louisiana: $1,279)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 43.4% (Louisiana: 51.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 60.8% (Louisiana: 66.5%)
> Median household income: $40,136 (Louisiana: $51,073)
Maine: Bangor
> Median home value: $154,300 (Maine: $200,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,220 (Maine: $1,387)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.0% (Maine: 60.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 69.7% (Maine: 72.2%)
> Median household income: $50,449 (Maine: $58,924)
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Maryland: Cumberland
> Median home value: $131,400 (Maryland: $332,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $991 (Maryland: $2,015)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.5% (Maryland: 71.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.6% (Maryland: 66.8%)
> Median household income: $49,729 (Maryland: $86,738)
Massachusetts: Pittsfield
> Median home value: $229,900 (Massachusetts: $418,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,573 (Massachusetts: $2,276)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.9% (Massachusetts: 68.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.0% (Massachusetts: 62.2%)
> Median household income: $58,895 (Massachusetts: $85,843)
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Michigan: Saginaw
> Median home value: $108,300 (Michigan: $169,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,069 (Michigan: $1,285)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.6% (Michigan: 59.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 72.1% (Michigan: 71.6%)
> Median household income: $48,303 (Michigan: $59,584)
Minnesota: Duluth
> Median home value: $167,200 (Minnesota: $246,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,243 (Minnesota: $1,595)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 59.3% (Minnesota: 65.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 73.0% (Minnesota: 71.9%)
> Median household income: $60,316 (Minnesota: $74,593)
Mississippi: Hattiesburg
> Median home value: $145,300 (Mississippi: $128,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,223 (Mississippi: $1,149)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 49.8% (Mississippi: 49.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 61.6% (Mississippi: 67.3%)
> Median household income: $48,359 (Mississippi: $45,792)
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Missouri: St. Joseph
> Median home value: $122,400 (Missouri: $168,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,094 (Missouri: $1,271)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 53.6% (Missouri: 60.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 63.3% (Missouri: 67.1%)
> Median household income: $50,425 (Missouri: $57,409)
Montana: Great Falls
> Median home value: $190,100 (Montana: $253,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,299 (Montana: $1,466)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 59.2% (Montana: 55.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.0% (Montana: 68.9%)
> Median household income: $51,227 (Montana: $57,153)
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Nebraska: Grand Island
> Median home value: $154,300 (Nebraska: $172,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,277 (Nebraska: $1,427)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.1% (Nebraska: 59.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (Nebraska: 66.3%)
> Median household income: $55,907 (Nebraska: $63,229)
Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
> Median home value: $313,100 (Nevada: $317,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,578 (Nevada: $1,589)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.3% (Nevada: 67.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 54.3% (Nevada: 56.6%)
> Median household income: $62,107 (Nevada: $63,276)
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua*
> Median home value: $293,300 (New Hampshire: $281,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,095 (New Hampshire: $1,963)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 67.9% (New Hampshire: 64.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.1% (New Hampshire: 71.0%)
> Median household income: $83,626 (New Hampshire: $77,933)
*Because Manchester-Nashua is the only eligible metro in New Hampshire, it is the most affordable metro to buy a home by default.
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New Jersey: Vineland-Bridgeton
> Median home value: $164,900 (New Jersey: $348,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,623 (New Jersey: $2,413)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 60.9% (New Jersey: 65.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.8% (New Jersey: 63.3%)
> Median household income: $54,587 (New Jersey: $85,751)
New Mexico: Farmington
> Median home value: $154,200 (New Mexico: $180,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,284 (New Mexico: $1,269)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.2% (New Mexico: 52.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.7% (New Mexico: 68.1%)
> Median household income: $44,321 (New Mexico: $51,945)
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New York: Elmira
> Median home value: $110,900 (New York: $338,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,201 (New York: $2,156)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.1% (New York: 59.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 71.9% (New York: 53.5%)
> Median household income: $60,782 (New York: $72,108)
North Carolina: Rocky Mount
> Median home value: $113,900 (North Carolina: $193,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,084 (North Carolina: $1,318)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.8% (North Carolina: 63.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 62.8% (North Carolina: 65.3%)
> Median household income: $46,466 (North Carolina: $57,341)
North Dakota: Grand Forks
> Median home value: $202,800 (North Dakota: $205,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,432 (North Dakota: $1,430)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.2% (North Dakota: 52.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 55.5% (North Dakota: 61.3%)
> Median household income: $57,301 (North Dakota: $64,577)
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Ohio: Youngstown-Warren-Boardman
> Median home value: $108,900 (Ohio: $157,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $999 (Ohio: $1,250)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.7% (Ohio: 62.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.6% (Ohio: 66.0%)
> Median household income: $48,558 (Ohio: $58,642)
Oklahoma: Enid
> Median home value: $119,400 (Oklahoma: $147,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,126 (Oklahoma: $1,231)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 49.5% (Oklahoma: 54.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.3% (Oklahoma: 65.5%)
> Median household income: $64,929 (Oklahoma: $54,449)
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Oregon: Albany-Lebanon
> Median home value: $257,200 (Oregon: $354,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,467 (Oregon: $1,750)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 68.1% (Oregon: 66.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.4% (Oregon: 62.9%)
> Median household income: $61,488 (Oregon: $67,058)
Pennsylvania: Johnstown
> Median home value: $96,800 (Pennsylvania: $192,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,058 (Pennsylvania: $1,477)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 46.9% (Pennsylvania: 59.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 74.9% (Pennsylvania: 68.4%)
> Median household income: $49,076 (Pennsylvania: $63,463)
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick*
> Median home value: $296,800 (Rhode Island: $283,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,891 (Rhode Island: $1,837)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 66.2% (Rhode Island: 66.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 62.0% (Rhode Island: 61.7%)
> Median household income: $70,967 (Rhode Island: $71,169)
*Because Providence-Warwick is the only eligible metro in Rhode Island, it is the most affordable metro to buy a home by default.
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South Carolina: Sumter
> Median home value: $126,600 (South Carolina: $179,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,032 (South Carolina: $1,250)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.2% (South Carolina: 58.0%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.0% (South Carolina: 70.3%)
> Median household income: $49,263 (South Carolina: $56,227)
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Median home value: $199,800 (South Dakota: $185,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,404 (South Dakota: $1,371)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.3% (South Dakota: 55.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 68.0% (South Dakota: 67.8%)
> Median household income: $58,361 (South Dakota: $59,533)
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Tennessee: Jackson
> Median home value: $121,400 (Tennessee: $191,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,076 (Tennessee: $1,264)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.6% (Tennessee: 58.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (Tennessee: 66.5%)
> Median household income: $48,700 (Tennessee: $56,071)
Texas: Brownsville-Harlingen
> Median home value: $89,000 (Texas: $200,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,128 (Texas: $1,675)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 40.7% (Texas: 56.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (Texas: 61.9%)
> Median household income: $41,123 (Texas: $64,034)
Utah: Logan
> Median home value: $272,800 (Utah: $330,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,372 (Utah: $1,605)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 64.7% (Utah: 70.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.2% (Utah: 70.6%)
> Median household income: $61,467 (Utah: $75,780)
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Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington*
> Median home value: $291,800 (Vermont: $233,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,850 (Vermont: $1,606)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.0% (Vermont: 61.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.7% (Vermont: 70.9%)
> Median household income: $74,909 (Vermont: $63,001)
*Because Burlington-South Burlington is the only eligible metro in Vermont, it is the most affordable metro to buy a home by default.
Virginia: Lynchburg
> Median home value: $174,000 (Virginia: $288,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,144 (Virginia: $1,792)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.3% (Virginia: 67.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 71.0% (Virginia: 66.1%)
> Median household income: $57,736 (Virginia: $76,456)
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Washington: Yakima
> Median home value: $213,800 (Washington: $387,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,317 (Washington: $1,951)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 59.2% (Washington: 67.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 63.4% (Washington: 63.1%)
> Median household income: $56,233 (Washington: $78,687)
West Virginia: Weirton-Steubenville
> Median home value: $95,400 (West Virginia: $124,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $979 (West Virginia: $1,052)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 45.8% (West Virginia: 46.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.9% (West Virginia: 73.4%)
> Median household income: $49,510 (West Virginia: $48,850)
Wisconsin: Janesville-Beloit
> Median home value: $162,800 (Wisconsin: $197,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,268 (Wisconsin: $1,412)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.9% (Wisconsin: 62.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 68.6% (Wisconsin: 67.2%)
> Median household income: $61,243 (Wisconsin: $64,168)
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Wyoming: Casper
> Median home value: $225,400 (Wyoming: $235,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,448 (Wyoming: $1,417)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: N/A (Wyoming: 59.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 72.4% (Wyoming: 71.9%)
> Median household income: $65,034 (Wyoming: $65,003)
Methodology
To determine the most affordable metro to buy a home in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed one-year estimates of median owner-occupied home values from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metros were ranked within their state based on their owner-occupied median home values. To break ties, we used median monthly housing costs with a mortgage. Since many metros cross state lines, the metro was assigned to the state of its first-listed principal city. Thus, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area was excluded as it is principally in the District of Columbia.
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 one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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