While COVID-19 kept many people at home for a year-and-a-half, more than seven million households moved to another county in 2020 — almost half a million more than moved in 2019. Over the same period, the real estate market saw what Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies called an “extraordinary and unexpected pandemic increase in house prices.”
The winding down (we hope) of the crisis hasn’t slowed the market down. The online real estate marketplace Zillow estimates that the value of a middle-tier home in the U.S. landed at $293,340 (seasonally adjusted) this June, a 15% jump over the previous year. The firm further predicts values will climb 13.2% in the year to come. Realtor.com, meanwhile, found that the national median listing price for active home sales in June grew 12.7% compared to last year, reaching $385,000 — a decrease from the 15.2% growth in May, but still substantial.
But these are national averages, and don’t reflect the cost of housing in many parts of the country. And if the pandemic clarified anything, it was that workers don’t necessarily need to live in a major (and probably pricey) metropolitan area. Many can now work from anywhere, so are able to consider moving to less glamorous and less expensive places, and telecommuting from a home that won’t stretch the budget. (If money is no concern, on the other hand, see American cities with the highest share of luxury homes for sale.)
Reviewing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates, 24/7 Wall St. has identified the 47 locales where it’s easiest to buy a house for less than $100,000. We ranked only census-designated places, cities, and towns with at least 50,000 residents where median home values were below $100,000. All data comes from the ACS except percent of population change, which we calculated using ACS data.
Click here to see American cities where you can buy a home for under $100,000
We found some real bargains — vibrant, populous cities with universities, lively cultural scenes, and solid employment bases, like Cleveland, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama. Ohio, in fact, comes up nine times on our list, and many other entries are also in the Midwest. Even New York State has pockets of affordability, though, in places like Rochester and Syracuse. (See the cheapest city to buy a home in every state.)
43. Albany, Georgia
> Median home value: $99,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 50.1% — 43 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $36,615 — 815 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.9% — 830 out of 835 cities
> Population: 73,478
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42. Elyria, Ohio
> Median home value: $99,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 50.7% — 42 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $44,324 — 734 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -0.4% — 683 out of 835 cities
> Population: 53,821
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41. Florissant, Missouri
> Median home value: $97,600
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 54.0% — 37 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $54,978 — 520 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.7% — 796 out of 835 cities
> Population: 51,455
40. Taylor, Michigan
> Median home value: $96,300
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 52.2% — 41 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $50,053 — 624 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.0% — 744 out of 835 cities
> Population: 61,379
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39. Utica, New York
> Median home value: $95,900
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 53.7% — 38 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,760 — 807 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.1% — 810 out of 835 cities
> Population: 60,320
38. Elkhart, Indiana
> Median home value: $95,900
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 53.6% — 39 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $40,750 — 782 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -0.2% — 655 out of 835 cities
> Population: 52,257
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37. Trenton, New Jersey
> Median home value: $95,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 54.1% — 35 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $35,402 — 821 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.4% — 783 out of 835 cities
> Population: 83,412
36. Kansas City, Kansas
> Median home value: $95,600
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 52.6% — 40 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $45,665 — 715 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 2.5% — 431 out of 835 cities
> Population: 152,522
35. Syracuse, New York
> Median home value: $94,400
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.2% — 34 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $38,276 — 805 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.2% — 756 out of 835 cities
> Population: 142,874
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34. Evansville, Indiana
> Median home value: $94,200
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.4% — 32 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $40,178 — 791 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.4% — 773 out of 835 cities
> Population: 118,588
33. Hammond, Indiana
> Median home value: $91,700
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 59.6% — 25 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $46,406 — 702 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.1% — 822 out of 835 cities
> Population: 76,547
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32. Rockford, Illinois
> Median home value: $91,600
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.4% — 31 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $44,252 — 736 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.1% — 811 out of 835 cities
> Population: 147,070
31. Birmingham, Alabama
> Median home value: $91,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.2% — 33 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,375 — 809 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.0% — 638 out of 835 cities
> Population: 212,297
30. Jackson, Mississippi
> Median home value: $90,700
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 55.6% — 30 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $38,888 — 800 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.9% — 831 out of 835 cities
> Population: 166,383
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29. Brownsville, Texas
> Median home value: $90,000
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 58.2% — 27 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $38,588 — 802 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.4% — 602 out of 835 cities
> Population: 182,271
28. Buffalo, New York
> Median home value: $89,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 54.1% — 36 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,354 — 810 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.2% — 757 out of 835 cities
> Population: 256,480
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27. Erie, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $89,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 62.2% — 22 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,894 — 806 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.4% — 826 out of 835 cities
> Population: 97,263
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26. Kokomo, Indiana
> Median home value: $89,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 57.4% — 29 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $45,797 — 711 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.2% — 623 out of 835 cities
> Population: 58,145
25. Harlingen, Texas
> Median home value: $87,500
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 58.8% — 26 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $39,752 — 793 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.0% — 743 out of 835 cities
> Population: 65,129
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24. Lorain, Ohio
> Median home value: $87,300
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 60.3% — 24 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $38,291 — 804 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.0% — 639 out of 835 cities
> Population: 63,801
23. Battle Creek, Michigan
> Median home value: $86,500
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 58.0% — 28 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $42,298 — 761 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.0% — 739 out of 835 cities
> Population: 51,316
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22. South Bend, Indiana
> Median home value: $85,200
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 60.3% — 23 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $40,265 — 789 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 1.4% — 508 out of 835 cities
> Population: 102,037
21. Camden, New Jersey
> Median home value: $84,000
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 68.1% — 13 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $27,015 — 835 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.8% — 829 out of 835 cities
> Population: 74,002
20. Lansing, Michigan
> Median home value: $83,500
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 65.2% — 16 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $41,674 — 771 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 2.3% — 440 out of 835 cities
> Population: 117,159
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19. Rochester, New York
> Median home value: $83,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 63.9% — 20 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $35,590 — 820 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.8% — 800 out of 835 cities
> Population: 206,848
18. Decatur, Illinois
> Median home value: $83,000
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 62.5% — 21 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $42,701 — 756 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.1% — 821 out of 835 cities
> Population: 72,359
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17. Akron, Ohio
> Median home value: $82,400
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 65.2% — 17 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $38,739 — 801 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -0.1% — 650 out of 835 cities
> Population: 198,051
16. Pharr, Texas
> Median home value: $80,900
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 65.7% — 14 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $39,884 — 792 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 5.1% — 252 out of 835 cities
> Population: 78,073
15. Toledo, Ohio
> Median home value: $80,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 64.3% — 19 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,752 — 808 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.0% — 805 out of 835 cities
> Population: 276,614
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14. Springfield, Ohio
> Median home value: $80,700
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 64.7% — 18 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $39,332 — 796 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.5% — 784 out of 835 cities
> Population: 59,132
13. Terre Haute, Indiana
> Median home value: $78,700
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 65.4% — 15 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $36,406 — 817 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -0.6% — 710 out of 835 cities
> Population: 60,673
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12. Muncie, Indiana
> Median home value: $73,500
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 68.5% — 12 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $33,944 — 824 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.0% — 809 out of 835 cities
> Population: 68,750
11. Reading, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $73,200
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 72.3% — 9 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $32,176 — 829 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.2% — 618 out of 835 cities
> Population: 88,232
10. Anderson, Indiana
> Median home value: $72,900
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 72.5% — 8 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $37,038 — 813 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.0% — 806 out of 835 cities
> Population: 54,513
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9. Canton, Ohio
> Median home value: $71,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 70.8% — 10 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $32,287 — 828 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.7% — 793 out of 835 cities
> Population: 71,243
8. Cleveland, Ohio
> Median home value: $69,600
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 72.8% — 7 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $30,907 — 831 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.4% — 774 out of 835 cities
> Population: 385,282
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7. Pontiac, Michigan
> Median home value: $67,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 73.4% — 6 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $33,568 — 825 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.0% — 637 out of 835 cities
> Population: 59,955
6. Dayton, Ohio
> Median home value: $66,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 76.3% — 5 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $32,540 — 827 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -0.6% — 695 out of 835 cities
> Population: 140,569
5. Gary, Indiana
> Median home value: $66,100
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 77.2% — 4 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $31,936 — 830 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.2% — 823 out of 835 cities
> Population: 76,010
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4. Port Arthur, Texas
> Median home value: $65,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 69.8% — 11 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $36,557 — 816 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: 0.4% — 600 out of 835 cities
> Population: 55,109
3. Detroit, Michigan
> Median home value: $49,200
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 80.4% — 3 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $30,894 — 832 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -2.2% — 815 out of 835 cities
> Population: 674,841
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2. Youngstown, Ohio
> Median home value: $44,800
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 90.2% — 2 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $28,822 — 834 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -1.2% — 761 out of 835 cities
> Population: 64,783
1. Flint, Michigan
> Median home value: $29,500
> Homes worth less than $100,000: 91.1% — 1 out of 835 cities
> Median household income: $28,834 — 833 out of 835 cities
> 5-year pop. change: -3.2% — 824 out of 835 cities
> Population: 96,559
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