Least Competitive Housing Markets
Least-competitive markets give buyers more time and leverage — slower days to pending and a cooler Market Heat Index. This ranking activates when those Zillow datasets are imported.
On the data roadmap
The Market Heat Index is a directional index, not a guarantee. To keep this site trustworthy, we do not publish placeholder market-signal numbers. This ranking goes live once these Zillow Research datasets are imported:
- For-sale inventory — more choice favors buyers; pending
- Share of listings with a price cut — rising cuts favor buyers; pending
- Days to pending — slower sales favor buyers; pending
- Zillow Market Heat Index — lower heat favors buyers; pending
What you can explore right now
Our affordability layers are fully live on Zillow home-value data. While the market-signal index is being wired up, here are the most affordable states to buy today:
| # | State | Est. home value | Est. payment | Income needed | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia · WV | $178,719 | $1,349 | $57,814 | 50 |
| 2 | Iowa · IA | $238,019 | $1,797 | $77,014 | 46 |
| 3 | Kansas · KS | $249,382 | $1,883 | $80,700 | 42 |
| 4 | Oklahoma · OK | $223,590 | $1,688 | $72,343 | 40 |
| 5 | Ohio · OH | $248,719 | $1,878 | $80,486 | 39 |
| 6 | Illinois · IL | $294,136 | $2,220 | $95,143 | 38 |
| 7 | Louisiana · LA | $216,254 | $1,633 | $69,986 | 38 |
| 8 | Mississippi · MS | $197,008 | $1,487 | $63,729 | 38 |
| 9 | Indiana · IN | $259,711 | $1,961 | $84,043 | 36 |
| 10 | Kentucky · KY | $235,060 | $1,775 | $76,071 | 35 |
Sources — Home values & rent: Zillow Research, 2026-05 · Income: U.S. Census ACS. Zillow does not endorse this site.
Explore more rankings
- Most Affordable States to Buy a Home
- Most Affordable Starter-Home Markets
- Affordable Family-Home Markets
- Lowest Income Needed to Buy
- Most Rent-Burdened States
- Most Affordable Cities to Buy
- Best Cities for First-Time Buyers
- Best Buyer-Opportunity Markets
- Markets With the Most Price Cuts
- Least Competitive Housing Markets
Customize this scenario
Want to adjust down payment, taxes, PMI, insurance, or HOA? Open this scenario in the Home Payment Atlas mortgage calculator for full, personalized payment math.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't the Market Heat Index live yet?
It depends on Zillow market-signal datasets (inventory, price cuts, days to pending, market heat) that are not yet imported. We publish numbers only when the underlying data is in place — no fabricated figures.
Is this index financial advice?
No. It is a directional, educational signal of market conditions, not a guarantee, prediction, or financial, mortgage, or real-estate advice.
What can I use right now?
The affordability rankings are fully live on Zillow home-value data — see the most affordable states and starter-home markets below, or open the mortgage calculator.
About these estimates & data sources
Home values and rents reflect Zillow Research data (ZHVI and ZORI, 2026-05). Household income reflects U.S. Census ACS data. All figures are estimates for general comparison, not appraisals or quotes — confirm details before relying on them.
Home values and rent: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), 2026-05. Geography and FIPS codes: U.S. Census Bureau (Cartographic Boundary Files). Household income: U.S. Census ACS. Detailed payment math: Home Payment Atlas. Zillow does not endorse this site.
Figures are educational estimates only and are not financial, legal, tax, mortgage, or real-estate advice, and not a loan offer. Verify every number with lenders, agents, tax authorities, and official sources. See our methodology and terms & disclaimer.