Most Affordable Markets for Homebuyers
Markets that seem affordable, because their median home price is lower than other areas, may actually be unaffordable for people who live there. Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis top the list of metros that pass a more realistic test.
March 13, 2018
Written by Zillow Research
Affordability is a relative concept in housing. Markets that seem affordable because their median rent is on the low side may actually be unaffordable to people who live there. For that reason, we measure affordability by the share of median income that residents pay for a 30-year fixed mortgage on a typical home. By that measure, the following 10 markets were the most affordable among the largest 50 metro areas at the end of 2017. Below them is a list of the least affordable large markets.
1. Oklahoma City, OK
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| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 10.8% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $136,300 |
| National Population Rank: 42 |
| Inventory: 6,395 homes |
2. Pittsburgh, PA
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 10.9% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $139,100 |
| National Population Rank: 22 |
| Inventory: 9,671 homes |
3. Indianapolis, IN
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $142,300 |
| National Population Rank: 33 |
| Inventory: 6,476 homes |
4. Memphis, TN
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $124,800 |
| National Population Rank: 41 |
| Inventory: 3,878 homes |
5. St. Louis, MO
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.1% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $150,800 |
| National Population Rank: 18 |
| Inventory: 11,027 homes |
6. Detroit, MI
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.3% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $144,400 |
| National Population Rank: 12 |
| Inventory: 12,063 homes |
7. Birmingham, AL
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.3% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $135,000 |
| National Population Rank: 49 |
| Inventory: 5,330 homes |
8. Cincinnati, OH
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.4% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $156,600 |
| National Population Rank: 28 |
| Inventory: 5,860 homes |
9. Cleveland, OH
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.6% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $137,000 |
| National Population Rank: 29 |
| Inventory: 8,617 homes |
10. Kansas City, MO
| Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 11.9% |
| Zillow Home Value Index: $166,100 |
| National Population Rank: 30 |
| Inventory: 7,513 homes |
Least Affordable Markets for Homebuyers
San Jose, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 46.1%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $1.2 million
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 41.6%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $1.2 million
San Francisco, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 40.6%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $910,600
San Diego, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 34.7%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $565,000
New York, NY
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 26.3%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $429,900
Sacramento, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 26%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $381,400
Riverside, CA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 25.6%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $340,900
Seattle, WA
- Zillow Home Value Index: $468,000
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 24.9%
Portland, OR
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 23.6%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $373,500
Boston, MA
- Share of Income Spent on Mortgage: 23.6%
- Zillow Home Value Index: $373,500
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