Most affordable states to buy a home

In West Virginia the median home costs 2.9 years of median household income. In Hawaii it costs 8.6.

Most affordable

1. West Virginia: 2.9x income: $176,300 home, $61,340 income
2. Iowa: 3.1x income: $237,000 home, $76,483 income
3. Kansas: 3.2x income: $252,600 home, $77,824 income
4. Mississippi: 3.2x income: $192,700 home, $59,346 income
5. Illinois: 3.4x income: $294,400 home, $86,676 income
6. Ohio: 3.4x income: $254,100 home, $74,804 income
7. Oklahoma: 3.4x income: $234,000 home, $68,441 income
8. Nebraska: 3.4x income: $279,200 home, $81,614 income
9. Indiana: 3.4x income: $255,200 home, $74,516 income
10. North Dakota: 3.5x income: $281,700 home, $81,545 income

Least affordable

1. Hawaii: 8.6x income: $901,500 home, $105,013 income
2. California: 7.5x income: $770,700 home, $102,159 income
3. District of Columbia: 6.5x income: $715,500 home, $109,505 income
4. Washington: 5.9x income: $605,600 home, $101,946 income
5. Massachusetts: 5.9x income: $626,900 home, $106,539 income
6. Oregon: 5.8x income: $507,900 home, $86,953 income
7. Colorado: 5.7x income: $567,600 home, $99,729 income
8. Montana: 5.5x income: $427,500 home, $77,099 income
9. Utah: 5.5x income: $543,400 home, $99,311 income
10. Idaho: 5.4x income: $457,800 home, $84,234 income

What this doesn't count

Mortgage rates, insurance and property tax all change the monthly cost, and income in a state isn't your income. For the tax side, see property taxes by state.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2025 1-year estimates, tables B25077, B19013. Survey estimates carry a margin of error, which is larger in small states. Pulled 2026-11-03.