Here's where normal people can still buy homes, according to real estate data
(NEXSTAR) – If you've given up on home ownership, you're not alone. The dream has grown unaffordable and unrealistic for Americans in many major cities.
'The rapid rise in home values coupled with the doubling of mortgage rates caused the cost of owning a home to soar. Unfortunately, incomes just haven't kept up. That lowered affordability everywhere,' said Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy.
But if you look closely, some pockets of America are still considered 'affordable' to the average family. In a data analysis shared with Nexstar, Zillow identified which cities are affordable by determining where the median-income family is able to spend less than one-third of their income on housing costs.
Looking for a home under $300K? Try these 10 major US metros
If you're able to scrape together a 20% down payment, several dozen metro areas remain affordable for a median family looking to buy. However, most people don't have that much cash sitting around in the bank.
When you set the target to a more reasonable 10% down payment, only 11 metro areas are still considered 'affordable':
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Toledo, Ohio
Columbia, South Carolina
Syracuse, New York
Jackson, Mississippi
Wichita, Kansas
Akron, Ohio
Augusta, Georgia
Little Rock, Arkansas
St. Louis, Missouri
Birmingham, Alabama
Most places that still rank as affordable are found in the Midwest and the South, where zoning codes tend to be more lenient and builders have been able to respond to rising demand more quickly.
'At the start of the pandemic, when residential mobility increased, home values in the Midwest, Great Lakes region and more inland South shot up just as fast as the rest of the country, and even faster in some metros. But home values in these regions — for the most part — were relatively less expensive to begin with,' Divounguy said. 'So even with all that growth, many of them are still relatively more affordable, especially if you have access to a large down payment.'
If you're looking for the lowest prices overall, Redfin recently released a list of 10 major metro areas where homes are still under $300,000. Those willing to relocate to Detroit will find some of the best deals. The median sale price there is $180,000.
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As mentioned before, if prospective homebuyers are able to put a larger payment down up-front, their real estate prospects expand. Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Oklahoma City all become affordable to a median-income family with a 20% down payment. (See the full list at the bottom of this story.)
For now, a few Upstate New York cities remain on the list, but that could soon change, according to Divounguy. Buffalo has been one of the hottest housing markets in the country the past couple years and supply isn't keeping up with demand.
'Strong job growth in the area has far outstripped new permits, and inventory of homes is nearly half what it was before the pandemic. Buffalo was previously one of the most accessible large cities in the nation. Now a mortgage for a typical home there is unaffordable for a family making the median household income, even with a 20% down payment.'
Metro area
Total monthly home payment (with 20% down)
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,601
Toledo, OH
$1,434
Columbia, SC
$1,539
Syracuse, NY
$1,705
Jackson, MS
$1,367
Wichita, KS
$1,579
Akron, OH
$1,671
Augusta, GA
$1,607
Little Rock, AR
$1,584
St. Louis, MO
$1,894
Birmingham, AL
$1,706
Cincinnati, OH
$1,937
Indianapolis, IN
$1,963
Oklahoma City, OK
$1,765
Detroit, MI
$1,839
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,662
Rochester, NY
$1,902
Cleveland, OH
$1,753
McAllen, TX
$1,414
Louisville, KY
$1,786
Chicago, IL
$2,268
Des Moines, IA
$2,138
Omaha, NE
$2,147
Columbus, OH
$2,075
Greensboro, NC
$1,696
Tulsa, OK
$1,751
Memphis, TN
$1,726
Winston, NC
$1,746
Houston, TX
$2,216
Scranton, PA
$1,604
Greenville, SC
$1,961
Baltimore, MD
$2,674
El Paso, TX
$1,692
Kansas City, MO
$2,254
Harrisburg, PA
$2,158
Minneapolis, MN
$2,711
New Orleans, LA
$1,753
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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