Most Affordable States to Buy a Home
States ranked by estimated buying-affordability score for a mid-tier home — comparing household income with the income needed to buy.
| # | 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 |
| 11 | Michigan · MI | $266,964 | $2,015 | $86,357 | 35 |
| 12 | Nebraska · NE | $282,169 | $2,130 | $91,286 | 35 |
| 13 | North Dakota · ND | $290,642 | $2,194 | $94,029 | 34 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $289,277 | $2,184 | $93,600 | 34 |
| 15 | Alabama · AL | $239,515 | $1,808 | $77,486 | 33 |
| 16 | Arkansas · AR | $226,473 | $1,710 | $73,286 | 33 |
| 17 | Missouri · MO | $268,423 | $2,026 | $86,829 | 33 |
| 18 | Texas · TX | $302,550 | $2,284 | $97,886 | 32 |
| 19 | Minnesota · MN | $354,135 | $2,673 | $114,557 | 30 |
| 20 | Maryland | $434,033 | $3,277 | $140,443 | 27 |
| 21 | Alaska · AK | $395,622 | $2,987 | $128,014 | 25 |
| 22 | Georgia · GA | $334,465 | $2,525 | $108,214 | 24 |
| 23 | South Dakota · SD | $323,067 | $2,439 | $104,529 | 24 |
| 24 | Wisconsin · WI | $339,653 | $2,564 | $109,886 | 24 |
| 25 | South Carolina · SC | $308,062 | $2,326 | $99,686 | 23 |
| 26 | Virginia | $417,463 | $3,151 | $135,043 | 23 |
| 27 | Connecticut · CT | $447,447 | $3,378 | $144,771 | 21 |
| 28 | North Carolina · NC | $339,236 | $2,561 | $109,757 | 20 |
| 29 | Delaware · DE | $410,212 | $3,097 | $132,729 | 19 |
| 30 | Wyoming · WY | $367,664 | $2,776 | $118,971 | 19 |
| 31 | Tennessee · TN | $336,445 | $2,540 | $108,857 | 18 |
| 32 | New Mexico · NM | $319,816 | $2,414 | $103,457 | 17 |
| 33 | Vermont · VT | $400,274 | $3,022 | $129,514 | 17 |
| 34 | Florida · FL | $377,578 | $2,850 | $122,143 | 16 |
| 35 | District of Columbia · DC | $582,077 | $4,394 | $188,314 | 14 |
| 36 | New Hampshire · NH | $516,578 | $3,900 | $167,143 | 14 |
| 37 | Arizona · AZ | $423,681 | $3,198 | $137,057 | 13 |
| 38 | New Jersey · NJ | $578,855 | $4,370 | $187,286 | 12 |
| 39 | Colorado · CO | $543,270 | $4,101 | $175,757 | 11 |
| 40 | Maine · ME | $416,614 | $3,145 | $134,786 | 11 |
| 41 | Nevada · NV | $447,276 | $3,377 | $144,729 | 10 |
| 42 | Rhode Island · RI | $509,691 | $3,848 | $164,914 | 10 |
| 43 | Utah · UT | $541,277 | $4,086 | $175,114 | 10 |
| 44 | New York · NY | $517,805 | $3,909 | $167,529 | 9 |
| 45 | Oregon · OR | $502,934 | $3,797 | $162,729 | 8 |
| 46 | Idaho · ID | $480,645 | $3,628 | $155,486 | 7 |
| 47 | Washington · WA | $603,870 | $4,559 | $195,386 | 7 |
| 48 | Massachusetts · MA | $667,265 | $5,037 | $215,871 | 6 |
| 49 | Montana · MT | $472,852 | $3,570 | $153,000 | 5 |
| 50 | California · CA | $775,550 | $5,855 | $250,929 | 0 |
| 51 | Hawaii · HI | $832,183 | $6,282 | $269,229 | 0 |
Sources — Home values & rent: Zillow Research, 2026-05 · Income: U.S. Census ACS. Zillow does not endorse this site.
How this ranking is built
Higher scores mean income covers the income needed for a mid-tier Zillow home value more comfortably. Every figure is an educational estimate. See the full methodology, then customize the math on the Home Payment Atlas mortgage calculator.
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
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Frequently asked questions
Where does this ranking's data come from?
Home values and rent are from Zillow Research (ZHVI/ZORI), 2026-05; income is from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year 2023). Figures are estimates, not appraisals.
How is the ranking calculated?
Higher scores mean income covers the income needed for a mid-tier Zillow home value more comfortably. Full details are on the methodology page.
How do I adjust the assumptions?
Open the Home Payment Atlas calculator to set your own down payment, rate, taxes, insurance, and PMI.
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.