Fueled in part by low interest rates and an influx of pandemic relief funds, demand for housing surged in the United States over the last two years. Inventory could not keep pace, as new construction was hobbled by rising commodity prices and supply constraints. As a result, home values rose at an unprecedented rate.
Soaring by over 36% since mid-2020, the median home sale price in the United States now stands at an all-time high of $440,300, well beyond the means of a typical working American. Although home prices are up nationwide, there are parts of the country where home values have been historically low – and homeownership is likely still affordable for most Americans. (Here is a look at the big city with the cheapest rent in every state.)
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 cities with the least expensive housing markets. Cities – defined as places with populations of at least 25,000 – are ranked by their median home value.
Among the cities on this list, median home values range from about $85,000 to less than $40,000. The majority of these places are located in the Midwest, including 14 in Ohio alone.
Many of these cities are in the Rust Belt and have been hit hard by the decline of American manufacturing. These places include Dayton, Ohio; Gary, Indiana; and Flint Michigan; as well as larger cities like Cleveland and Detroit.
Home prices are often a reflection of what local residents can afford, and just as home values are lower than average in the cities on this list, so too are incomes. In every city on this list, the median household income is at least $11,000 below the national median of $64,994 – and in 21 of these cities, most households earn less than $35,000 annually. (Here is a look at the poorest town in every state.)
Click here to see the cities with the cheapest housing.
Click here to see our detailed methodology
50. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $85,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.3% — 282nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 65.4% — 769th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 35.1% — 58th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $41,831 — 137th lowest of 1,788 cities
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49. Decatur, Illinois
> Median home value: $85,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.9% — 60th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 51.2% — 104th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 61.8% — 863rd highest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $45,404 — 234th lowest of 1,788 cities
48. Euclid, Ohio
> Median home value: $84,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.7% — 810th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 57.5% — 271st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 45.3% — 243rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $40,342 — 105th lowest of 1,788 cities
47. Meridian, Mississippi
> Median home value: $84,300
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.2% — 130th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 44.5% — 35th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 47.3% — 298th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $30,088 — 8th lowest of 1,788 cities
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46. Eastpointe, Michigan
> Median home value: $83,800
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.0% — 600th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 63.4% — 602nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 67.5% — 600th highest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $49,800 — 388th lowest of 1,788 cities
45. Terre Haute, Indiana
> Median home value: $83,800
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.2% — 477th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 63.5% — 608th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 54.1% — 559th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,299 — 61st lowest of 1,788 cities
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44. Toledo, Ohio
> Median home value: $83,600
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.2% — 134th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.5% — 323rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.7% — 423rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $39,155 — 87th lowest of 1,788 cities
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43. Akron, Ohio
> Median home value: $83,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.2% — 476th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 59.3% — 352nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.4% — 408th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $40,281 — 104th lowest of 1,788 cities
42. Granite City, Illinois
> Median home value: $83,100
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.8% — 208th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.0% — 443rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 64.8% — 709th highest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $53,545 — 507th lowest of 1,788 cities
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41. Camden, New Jersey
> Median home value: $82,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.1% — 506th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.6% — 234th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 40.3% — 127th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $28,623 — 4th lowest of 1,788 cities
40. Zanesville, Ohio
> Median home value: $81,700
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.3% — 395th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 60.5% — 414th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 44.3% — 214th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $33,158 — 24th lowest of 1,788 cities
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39. Pharr, Texas
> Median home value: $81,600
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.4% — 349th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 33.1% — 6th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 59.1% — 799th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $40,513 — 111th lowest of 1,788 cities
38. Lincoln Park, Michigan
> Median home value: $81,000
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.8% — 230th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 53.6% — 144th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 70.8% — 468th highest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $47,094 — 285th lowest of 1,788 cities (tied)
37. Springfield, Ohio
> Median home value: $80,600
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.0% — 627th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.4% — 317th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.3% — 402nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $39,344 — 91st lowest of 1,788 cities
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36. Gadsden, Alabama
> Median home value: $80,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.8% — 807th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 46.2% — 45th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 58.2% — 760th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,062 — 31st lowest of 1,788 cities
35. Alton, Illinois
> Median home value: $80,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.1% — 531st highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.2% — 451st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 60.0% — 845th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $43,291 — 182nd lowest of 1,788 cities
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34. Mansfield, Ohio
> Median home value: $80,300
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.5% — 96th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.6% — 233rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 48.6% — 346th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $36,318 — 50th lowest of 1,788 cities
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33. Greenville, Mississippi
> Median home value: $79,900
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.4% — 106th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 45.0% — 38th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 49.6% — 374th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $29,013 — 5th lowest of 1,788 cities
32. Reading, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $79,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.8% — 780th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.6% — 174th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 39.4% — 107th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $35,745 — 46th lowest of 1,788 cities
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31. Anderson, Indiana
> Median home value: $78,600
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.4% — 355th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 56.2% — 220th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 56.1% — 647th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,110 — 57th lowest of 1,788 cities
30. Niagara Falls, New York
> Median home value: $78,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.0% — 588th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.1% — 67th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 58.6% — 782nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $41,137 — 124th lowest of 1,788 cities
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29. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $78,000
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 3.1% — 49th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.2% — 68th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 48.5% — 340th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $40,505 — 110th lowest of 1,788 cities
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28. Marion, Ohio
> Median home value: $77,800
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.2% — 440th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.2% — 516th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 55.0% — 601st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $40,223 — 102nd lowest of 1,788 cities
27. Muskegon, Michigan
> Median home value: $77,200
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.0% — 564th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.0% — 150th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 49.9% — 388th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $35,323 — 42nd lowest of 1,788 cities
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26. York, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $77,100
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.5% — 650th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 60.6% — 421st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 41.7% — 155th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $36,320 — 51st lowest of 1,788 cities
25. Muncie, Indiana
> Median home value: $76,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 3.3% — 44th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 57.4% — 267th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.0% — 394th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,602 — 35th lowest of 1,788 cities
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24. Galesburg, Illinois
> Median home value: $76,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.6% — 270th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 52.1% — 114th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 57.8% — 736th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,322 — 62nd lowest of 1,788 cities
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23. Elmira, New York
> Median home value: $76,200
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.0% — the lowest of 1,788 cities (tied)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 57.8% — 293rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.8% — 425th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $36,543 — 52nd lowest of 1,788 cities
22. Garfield Heights, Ohio
> Median home value: $75,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.4% — 434th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.5% — 541st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 58.0% — 749th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $43,901 — 199th lowest of 1,788 cities
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21. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
> Median home value: $74,900
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.4% — 103rd highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 48.6% — 76th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 51.4% — 443rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,410 — 32nd lowest of 1,788 cities
20. Pontiac, Michigan
> Median home value: $73,800
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.7% — 247th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 50.0% — 87th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 43.4% — 190th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,673 — 36th lowest of 1,788 cities
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19. Cleveland, Ohio
> Median home value: $73,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.6% — 81st highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.5% — 169th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 41.9% — 160th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $31,838 — 16th lowest of 1,788 cities
18. Canton, Ohio
> Median home value: $73,300
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.6% — 276th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.5% — 322nd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 47.7% — 311th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $32,735 — 20th lowest of 1,788 cities
17. East Chicago, Indiana
> Median home value: $73,100
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.5% — 651st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.9% — 15th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 43.8% — 200th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $35,396 — 43rd lowest of 1,788 cities
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16. Jackson, Michigan
> Median home value: $71,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.2% — 448th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 63.8% — 635th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 55.2% — 612th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,192 — 60th lowest of 1,788 cities
15. Chester, Pennsylvania
> Median home value: $70,300
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.4% — 329th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 46.5% — 48th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 37.1% — 75th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $32,867 — 22nd lowest of 1,788 cities
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14. Marion, Indiana
> Median home value: $69,800
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.4% — 337th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 53.3% — 137th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 55.8% — 637th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $35,252 — 40th lowest of 1,788 cities
13. Dayton, Ohio
> Median home value: $69,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.8% — 221st highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.4% — 165th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 47.1% — 291st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,457 — 33rd lowest of 1,788 cities
12. Lima, Ohio
> Median home value: $68,900
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.5% — 89th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 54.9% — 179th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 46.4% — 267th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,586 — 34th lowest of 1,788 cities
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11. Port Arthur, Texas
> Median home value: $68,700
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.9% — 715th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 31.3% — 3rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 56.6% — 675th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,794 — 71st lowest of 1,788 cities
10. Gary, Indiana
> Median home value: $68,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.4% — 351st highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.9% — 17th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 50.3% — 403rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $31,315 — 14th lowest of 1,788 cities
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9. Bay City, Michigan
> Median home value: $68,000
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.0% — 625th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 51.0% — 101st lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 67.6% — 597th highest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $38,014 — 74th lowest of 1,788 cities
8. Danville, Illinois
> Median home value: $67,200
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.6% — 280th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.1% — 58th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 58.5% — 773rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $37,328 — 63rd lowest of 1,788 cities
7. Jamestown, New York
> Median home value: $66,400
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 0.8% — 779th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.9% — 212th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 48.4% — 338th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $34,767 — 37th lowest of 1,788 cities
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6. Warren, Ohio
> Median home value: $66,100
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 1.5% — 313th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 46.6% — 50th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 52.0% — 468th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $27,108 — 3rd lowest of 1,788 cities
5. East St. Louis, Illinois
> Median home value: $53,900
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 2.9% — 61st highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 32.5% — 4th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 49.3% — 363rd lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $24,009 — the lowest of 1,788 cities
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4. Detroit, Michigan
> Median home value: $52,700
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 5.4% — 12th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 32.7% — 5th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 47.6% — 310th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $32,498 — 19th lowest of 1,788 cities
3. Youngstown, Ohio
> Median home value: $46,900
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 7.5% — 4th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 41.9% — 16th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 56.2% — 654th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $30,129 — 9th lowest of 1,788 cities
2. Saginaw, Michigan
> Median home value: $41,500
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 4.6% — 18th highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.0% — 57th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 55.6% — 629th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $30,845 — 12th lowest of 1,788 cities
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1. Flint, Michigan
> Median home value: $31,700
> Homes worth less than $10,000: 11.4% — the highest of 1,788 cities
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 40.0% — 10th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Homeownership rate: 56.9% — 689th lowest of 1,788 cities
> Median household income: $30,383 — 11th lowest of 1,788 cities
Methodology
To determine the least expensive cities 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 2020 American Community Survey. Cities are ranked by median home value, and in the case of a tie, cities where a larger share of homes are worth less than $10,000 ranked higher.
We considered places in the 50 states and the District of Columbia with populations of at least 25,000. Cities were excluded if owner-occupied median home values were not available in the 2020 ACS or if the sampling error associated with a town’s data was deemed too high.
Additional information on the share of homes worth less than $10,000, the share of owner-occupied housing units that have a mortgage, rates of homeownership, and median annual household income are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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