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 counties to buy a home. We included counties, county equivalents, and independent cities in our analysis.
Home values in a given area are often a reflection of what residents can afford, and in every county or county equivalent on this list, the median household income is lower than the $62,843 that the typical American household earns annually. 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 every county or county equivalent 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 cheapest counties to buy a home in the United States
Click here to see our detailed methodology
50. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> Median home value: $63,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $800 — 19th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 23.9% — 37th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 67.4% — 739th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $25,019 — 8th lowest of 3,044 counties
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49. Lee County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $63,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $785 — 11th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 39.6% — 491st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.9% — 918th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $25,275 — 10th lowest of 3,044 counties
48. Kiowa County, Oklahoma
> Median home value: $62,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $948 — 349th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 31.1% — 125th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 72.1% — 1,399th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $38,019 — 289th lowest of 3,044 counties
47. Atkinson County, Georgia
> Median home value: $62,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $995 — 650th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.2% — 88th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 73.3% — 1,437th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $37,197 — 233rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
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46. Winkler County, Texas
> Median home value: $62,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $992 — 625th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 25.3% — 44th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 79.6% — 405th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $60,366 — 727th highest of 3,044 counties
45. Baylor County, Texas
> Median home value: $62,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,278 — 933rd highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 21.2% — 22nd lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 72.4% — 1,445th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,739 — 462nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
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44. Wilcox County, Georgia
> Median home value: $61,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $957 — 397th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 37.0% — 350th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 76.1% — 938th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $36,964 — 224th lowest of 3,044 counties
43. Monroe County, Arkansas
> Median home value: $61,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $894 — 151st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.5% — 195th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 59.9% — 254th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $38,468 — 319th lowest of 3,044 counties
42. Edwards County, Kansas
> Median home value: $61,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $856 — 69th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.9% — 83rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 78.0% — 612th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $50,902 — 1,433rd lowest of 3,044 counties
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41. Pulaski County, Illinois
> Median home value: $61,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $876 — 108th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 35.0% — 256th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 76.4% — 881st highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $34,640 — 138th lowest of 3,044 counties
40. Clinch County, Georgia
> Median home value: $61,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $932 — 287th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 32.9% — 168th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 74.9% — 1,127th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $27,658 — 25th lowest of 3,044 counties
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39. Crosby County, Texas
> Median home value: $60,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $884 — 124th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.3% — 105th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 75.3% — 1,066th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,759 — 464th lowest of 3,044 counties
38. Holmes County, Mississippi
> Median home value: $60,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $848 — 59th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 31.9% — 143rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 61.3% — 299th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $21,504 — 1st lowest of 3,044 counties
37. Harlan County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $60,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $891 — 140th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 34.5% — 231st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.8% — 900th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $26,478 — 13th lowest of 3,044 counties
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36. Apache County, Arizona
> Median home value: $59,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $971 — 487th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 20.3% — 16th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 78.9% — 484th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $32,508 — 99th lowest of 3,044 counties
35. Quitman County, Georgia
> Median home value: $59,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $846 — 55th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 37.4% — 368th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 70.2% — 1,104th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $26,667 — 14th lowest of 3,044 counties
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34. Bell County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $59,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $885 — 126th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 35.6% — 276th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 66.0% — 613th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $26,272 — 12th lowest of 3,044 counties
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33. Noxubee County, Mississippi
> Median home value: $59,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $956 — 392nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.7% — 617th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 72.9% — 1,499th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $33,784 — 119th lowest of 3,044 counties
32. Echols County, Georgia
> Median home value: $59,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $909 — 198th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.1% — 577th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 67.8% — 781st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $39,494 — 375th lowest of 3,044 counties
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31. McPherson County, South Dakota
> Median home value: $58,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,020 — 782nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 22.7% — 29th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 77.1% — 764th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $44,574 — 783rd lowest of 3,044 counties
30. Wheeler County, Georgia
> Median home value: $58,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $913 — 209th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 22.6% — 28th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 63.3% — 414th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $30,192 — 54th lowest of 3,044 counties
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29. Letcher County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $58,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $965 — 443rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.1% — 179th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 74.2% — 1,269th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $29,886 — 47th lowest of 3,044 counties
28. Corson County, South Dakota
> Median home value: $58,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,054 — 970th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 21.5% — 25th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 53.8% — 100th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $35,759 — 175th lowest of 3,044 counties
27. Ziebach County, South Dakota
> Median home value: $57,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $876 — 108th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 23.0% — 30th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 57.2% — 161st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $37,400 — 250th lowest of 3,044 counties
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26. Tillman County, Oklahoma
> Median home value: $56,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $895 — 157th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 35.4% — 269th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 75.8% — 988th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $42,280 — 588th lowest of 3,044 counties
25. Cimarron County, Oklahoma
> Median home value: $56,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $823 — 36th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.2% — 88th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 72.9% — 1,499th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $46,328 — 936th lowest of 3,044 counties
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24. Throckmorton County, Texas
> Median home value: $56,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,066 — 1,043rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 18.9% — 11th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 72.9% — 1,499th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,000 — 410th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
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23. Jewell County, Kansas
> Median home value: $56,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $871 — 90th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.8% — 79th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 81.3% — 242nd highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,676 — 455th lowest of 3,044 counties
22. Alexander County, Illinois
> Median home value: $56,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $940 — 321st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 34.4% — 229th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 73.7% — 1,370th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $36,806 — 218th lowest of 3,044 counties
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21. Willacy County, Texas
> Median home value: $55,300
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $965 — 443rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 24.8% — 40th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 70.5% — 1,139th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $35,521 — 171st lowest of 3,044 counties
20. Elk County, Kansas
> Median home value: $54,700
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,051 — 949th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 28.9% — 83rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 79.5% — 418th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $38,750 — 336th lowest of 3,044 counties
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19. Clay County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $54,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $802 — 21st lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 35.2% — 262nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 67.9% — 788th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $26,840 — 17th lowest of 3,044 counties
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18. Breathitt County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $54,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $923 — 248th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.1% — 103rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 71.0% — 1,217th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $27,344 — 22nd lowest of 3,044 counties
17. Haskell County, Texas
> Median home value: $53,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $843 — 51st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 20.4% — 17th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 75.6% — 1,017th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,313 — 434th lowest of 3,044 counties
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16. Hall County, Texas
> Median home value: $52,800
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $919 — 235th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 15.4% — 5th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 65.3% — 557th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $34,673 — 141st lowest of 3,044 counties
15. Jackson County, South Dakota
> Median home value: $52,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,082 — 1,150th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 18.2% — 10th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 58.3% — 192nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $33,295 — 109th lowest of 3,044 counties
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14. Collingsworth County, Texas
> Median home value: $52,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $851 — 61st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 23.7% — 36th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 75.3% — 1,066th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $39,120 — 353rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
13. Calhoun County, Georgia
> Median home value: $51,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $992 — 625th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 38.4% — 435th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 65.6% — 586th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $34,167 — 132nd lowest of 3,044 counties
12. Knott County, Kentucky
> Median home value: $51,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $861 — 75th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.8% — 100th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 74.8% — 1,147th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $31,198 — 70th lowest of 3,044 counties
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11. Dickens County, Texas
> Median home value: $51,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,096 — 1,231st lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 20.2% — 13th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 76.7% — 829th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $42,540 — 614th lowest of 3,044 counties
10. Quitman County, Mississippi
> Median home value: $50,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $820 — 33rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.5% — 109th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 58.7% — 209th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $25,283 — 11th lowest of 3,044 counties
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9. Hudspeth County, Texas
> Median home value: $50,900
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $645 — 1st lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 29.2% — 88th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 71.9% — 1,370th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $31,677 — 73rd lowest of 3,044 counties
8. Chautauqua County, Kansas
> Median home value: $49,500
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,033 — 853rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.5% — 109th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 77.7% — 659th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $40,298 — 430th lowest of 3,044 counties
7. Duval County, Texas
> Median home value: $49,400
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,010 — 734th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 15.6% — 6th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 65.5% — 577th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $41,186 — 495th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
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6. Stewart County, Georgia
> Median home value: $49,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $955 — 385th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 27.3% — 63rd lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 73.5% — 1,400th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $29,732 — 43rd lowest of 3,044 counties
5. Allendale County, South Carolina
> Median home value: $49,200
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $858 — 72nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 30.1% — 103rd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 68.2% — 826th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $27,185 — 20th lowest of 3,044 counties
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4. Cottle County, Texas
> Median home value: $46,600
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $872 — 92nd lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 32.5% — 157th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 56.2% — 138th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $32,305 — 91st lowest of 3,044 counties
3. Knox County, Texas
> Median home value: $45,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $846 — 55th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 22.0% — 27th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 82.9% — 119th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $48,798 — 1,183rd lowest of 3,044 counties
2. Hardeman County, Texas
> Median home value: $43,100
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $938 — 312th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 31.8% — 140th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Homeownership rate: 67.9% — 788th lowest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $41,859 — 550th lowest of 3,044 counties
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1. McDowell County, West Virginia
> Median home value: $35,000
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $745 — 5th lowest of 3,044 counties
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 14.3% — 3rd lowest of 3,044 counties
> Homeownership rate: 78.7% — 512th highest of 3,044 counties (tied)
> Median household income: $27,682 — 26th lowest of 3,044 counties
Methodology
To determine the least expensive counties 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.
Of the 3,220 counties or county equivalents, 3,142 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
Counties 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 county’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 county’s owner-occupied median home value was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ owner-occupied median home values. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
The remaining 3,044 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 county 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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