The Most Affordable Places to Buy a Home in 2026
These US cities offer the best value for your budget, according to recent Zillow data.
Written by May Ortega on August 19, 2026
Edited by Jessica Rapp
There are eight major cities where at least 50% of listings are considered affordable, according to a recent Zillow analysis. That’s down from 14 in February 2026. At the same time, the share of affordable homes for sale across the United States is larger than it was last year, with a 3.9% increase.
Top 10 most affordable housing markets
Buffalo, NY, comes out on top as the city with the most affordable home listings as of June 2026; roughly three-in-five listings there fall into this category.
| City | Share of affordable listings | Typical home value |
| Buffalo, NY | 59.1% | $294,992 |
| St. Louis, MO | 58.3% | $280,016 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 57.4% | $235,539 |
| Detroit, MI | 54.8% | $271,675 |
| Birmingham, AL | 51.4% | $263,726 |
| Baltimore, MD | 51.3% | $407,614 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 51.2% | $297,385 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 50% | $313,303 |
| Cleveland, OH | 49.6% | $255,598 |
| Chicago, IL | 47.1% | $359,888 |
Top 10 least affordable housing markets
Several California metros had the smallest amount of affordable listings as of June 2026. Los Angeles, CA, was found to have the lowest share of affordable home listings of any major market by far.
| City | Share of affordable listings | Typical home value |
| Los Angeles, CA | 5.2% | $968,028 |
| Providence, RI | 8.3% | $532,191 |
| San Diego, CA | 10.6% | $940,998 |
| Sacramento, CA | 14% | $584,122 |
| New York, NY | 14% | $735,003 |
| San Jose, CA | 14.3% | $1,583,961 |
| Riverside, CA | 14.4% | $586,047 |
| Boston, MA | 14.9% | $746,595 |
| Seattle, WA | 15.8% | $745,262 |
| San Francisco, CA | 17.4% | $1,142,320 |
Top 10 housing markets with the biggest gains in affordable listings
Affordable homes are becoming easier to find in some markets. Here are the cities where affordable listings increased the most over the past year. Here are the cities that saw the biggest increases in affordable home listings over the past year:
| City | Share of affordable listings | Change from a year earlier |
| Memphis, TN | 45.5% | +9.5% |
| Austin, TX | 28.8% | +9.1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 29.79% | +8% |
| Buffalo, NY | 59.1% | +7.8% |
| Washington, DC | 42.2% | +7.2% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 29.5% | +7.1% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 51.2% | +7% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 23.8% | +6.9% |
| Houston, TX | 37.3% | +6.9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 37.5% | +6% |
What makes a home "affordable"?
Zillow considers a home affordable if the cost of a mortgage on a typical home (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance) takes up less than 30% of a typical household’s budget — in some cases, a lot less.
How Zillow calculates the rankings:
- Typical home value: Based on local market data.
- Median household income: Adjusted for the specific metro area.
- Mortgage payment: Calculated using current interest rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, and assuming a 20% down payment.
Check out Zillow’s Affordability Dashboard to learn more about current home affordability conditions in the United States.
5 factors that impact your personal affordability
- Current interest rates: Even a 0.25% drop can save you thousands over the life of the loan.
- Credit score: Having a high score unlocks the lowest available interest rates.
- Down payment size: More cash upfront means a smaller loan and lower monthly interest.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Lenders use this to see how much financial "room" you have for a house payment.
- Local market favorability: In a buyers market, you have more room to negotiate price cuts.
Free tools to find your home buying budget
Don't guess your budget or how much you can afford to pay for a home. Use Zillow’s data-backed tools to find your price range:
- Pre-qualification or pre-approval through Zillow Home Loans: A lender gives you a precise amount of what you can realistically afford.
- Zillow Home Loans’ BuyAbility℠ tool: Connects your finances with real-time market rates for a personalized budget.
- Affordability calculator: Lets you play with "what-if" scenarios regarding down payments and terms.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) calculator: Helps you see your finances through a lender's eyes.
Calculate your BuyAbility℠
The bottom line
These lists show what's available around the country, but not how easy it is to buy a home. A market full of affordable listings can still be fiercely competitive, and a good price won't help if you're outbid or not ready to move fast. It could be a smart move to work with a Zillow Premier Agent partner who knows your market and can help you when you find the one.
A local agent can help you stay competitive on a budget.
They’ll help you get an edge without stretching your finances.
Talk with a local agentRelated Articles
A local agent can help you stay competitive on a budget.
They’ll help you get an edge without stretching your finances.
Talk with a local agent
