Housing Affordability Index by City (2026): Where Can You Afford to Buy?

· Updated

Discover which US cities are affordable for homebuyers and where housing costs outpace local incomes.

Housing Affordability Index: Major US Cities

Index of 100 = Median income family can exactly afford median home Higher = More affordable | Lower = Less affordable

Rank City Median Home Median Income Affordability Index
1 Pittsburgh, PA $210,000 $72,000 172
2 Cleveland, OH $185,000 $62,000 168
3 Detroit, MI $95,000 $42,000 165
4 St. Louis, MO $235,000 $72,000 153
5 Indianapolis, IN $250,000 $72,000 144
6 Oklahoma City, OK $225,000 $65,000 144
7 Memphis, TN $195,000 $56,000 143
8 Cincinnati, OH $260,000 $72,000 139
9 Kansas City, MO $275,000 $75,000 137
10 Birmingham, AL $230,000 $62,000 135
11 Louisville, KY $255,000 $68,000 133
12 Columbus, OH $290,000 $75,000 129
13 San Antonio, TX $285,000 $70,000 123
14 Jacksonville, FL $320,000 $75,000 117
15 Houston, TX $325,000 $75,000 115
16 Dallas, TX $365,000 $82,000 112
17 Atlanta, GA $380,000 $85,000 112
18 Phoenix, AZ $425,000 $85,000 100
19 Charlotte, NC $400,000 $80,000 100
— Index of 100 — — 100
20 Tampa, FL $380,000 $72,000 95
21 Las Vegas, NV $420,000 $72,000 86
22 Nashville, TN $460,000 $78,000 85
23 Portland, OR $525,000 $85,000 81
24 Raleigh, NC $450,000 $72,000 80
25 Denver, CO $575,000 $90,000 78
26 Austin, TX $510,000 $78,000 77
27 Minneapolis, MN $375,000 $55,000 73
28 Seattle, WA $825,000 $115,000 70
29 Washington, DC $650,000 $90,000 69
30 Boston, MA $750,000 $95,000 63
31 Miami, FL $550,000 $62,000 56
32 San Diego, CA $900,000 $95,000 53
33 Los Angeles, CA $950,000 $85,000 45
34 New York, NY $750,000 $68,000 45
35 San Francisco, CA $1,400,000 $145,000 38
36 San Jose, CA $1,500,000 $155,000 37

Income Required for Median Home

Assuming 20% down, 7% rate, 28% DTI front-end ratio

City Median Home Down Payment Income Needed Median Income Gap
Pittsburgh $210,000 $42,000 $52,000 $72,000 +$20,000
Indianapolis $250,000 $50,000 $62,000 $72,000 +$10,000
Houston $325,000 $65,000 $81,000 $75,000 -$6,000
Dallas $365,000 $73,000 $91,000 $82,000 -$9,000
Phoenix $425,000 $85,000 $106,000 $85,000 -$21,000
Denver $575,000 $115,000 $143,000 $90,000 -$53,000
Seattle $825,000 $165,000 $206,000 $115,000 -$91,000
San Diego $900,000 $180,000 $225,000 $95,000 -$130,000
Los Angeles $950,000 $190,000 $237,000 $85,000 -$152,000
San Francisco $1,400,000 $280,000 $350,000 $145,000 -$205,000

Most Affordable Large Metros (Population 500K+)

Rank Metro Price-to-Income Ratio Median Home Required Income
1 Pittsburgh, PA 2.9x $210,000 $52,000
2 Cleveland, OH 3.0x $185,000 $46,000
3 St. Louis, MO 3.3x $235,000 $59,000
4 Detroit, MI 2.3x $95,000 $24,000
5 Indianapolis, IN 3.5x $250,000 $62,000
6 Oklahoma City, OK 3.5x $225,000 $56,000
7 Cincinnati, OH 3.6x $260,000 $65,000
8 Columbus, OH 3.9x $290,000 $72,000
9 San Antonio, TX 4.1x $285,000 $71,000
10 Memphis, TN 3.5x $195,000 $49,000

Least Affordable Large Metros

Rank Metro Price-to-Income Ratio Median Home Required Income
1 San Jose, CA 9.7x $1,500,000 $375,000
2 San Francisco, CA 9.7x $1,400,000 $350,000
3 Los Angeles, CA 11.2x $950,000 $237,000
4 San Diego, CA 9.5x $900,000 $225,000
5 New York, NY 11.0x $750,000 $188,000
6 Miami, FL 8.9x $550,000 $137,000
7 Boston, MA 7.9x $750,000 $187,000
8 Seattle, WA 7.2x $825,000 $206,000
9 Denver, CO 6.4x $575,000 $143,000
10 Washington, DC 7.2x $650,000 $162,000

What Your Income Can Buy

$75,000 Household Income

City Max Home (28% DTI) Median Home Affordable?
Pittsburgh $285,000 $210,000 ✓ Yes
Indianapolis $285,000 $250,000 ✓ Yes
Houston $285,000 $325,000 ⚠️ Stretch
Dallas $285,000 $365,000 ✗ No
Denver $285,000 $575,000 ✗ No
Seattle $285,000 $825,000 ✗ No

$100,000 Household Income

City Max Home (28% DTI) Median Home Affordable?
Pittsburgh $380,000 $210,000 ✓ Yes
Indianapolis $380,000 $250,000 ✓ Yes
Houston $380,000 $325,000 ✓ Yes
Dallas $380,000 $365,000 ✓ Yes
Phoenix $380,000 $425,000 ⚠️ Stretch
Denver $380,000 $575,000 ✗ No

$150,000 Household Income

City Max Home (28% DTI) Median Home Affordable?
Houston $570,000 $325,000 ✓ Yes
Dallas $570,000 $365,000 ✓ Yes
Phoenix $570,000 $425,000 ✓ Yes
Denver $570,000 $575,000 ⚠️ Close
Seattle $570,000 $825,000 ✗ No
San Diego $570,000 $900,000 ✗ No

Affordability Trend (5-Year Change)

City 2021 Index 2026 Index Change
Austin, TX 125 77 -48 (worse)
Phoenix, AZ 135 100 -35 (worse)
Nashville, TN 115 85 -30 (worse)
Tampa, FL 120 95 -25 (worse)
Denver, CO 95 78 -17 (worse)
Dallas, TX 125 112 -13 (worse)
Houston, TX 130 115 -15 (worse)
Seattle, WA 72 70 -2 (stable)
San Francisco 40 38 -2 (stable)
Pittsburgh 170 172 +2 (slightly better)

Rent vs. Buy Analysis by City

Comparing monthly rent to monthly ownership cost:

City 1BR Rent Own Median* Ratio Verdict
San Francisco $3,200 $8,750 2.7x Rent
New York $3,400 $4,700 1.4x Rent (marginally)
Miami $2,400 $3,450 1.4x Rent (marginally)
Denver $1,800 $3,600 2.0x Rent
Seattle $2,200 $5,160 2.3x Rent
Austin $1,700 $3,190 1.9x Rent
Dallas $1,500 $2,285 1.5x Consider buying
Houston $1,400 $2,035 1.5x Consider buying
Indianapolis $1,200 $1,565 1.3x Buy
Pittsburgh $1,350 $1,315 1.0x Buy

Based on median home, 20% down, 7% rate, includes taxes/insurance

Best Cities for First-Time Buyers

Criteria: Affordable, growing economy, good quality of life

Rank City Affordability Job Growth Quality of Life
1 Indianapolis, IN Excellent Good Good
2 Columbus, OH Very Good Excellent Good
3 Kansas City, MO Very Good Good Good
4 San Antonio, TX Very Good Excellent Good
5 Pittsburgh, PA Excellent Moderate Good
6 Raleigh, NC Moderate Excellent Excellent
7 Tampa, FL Moderate Good Good
8 Houston, TX Good Excellent Good

Related: How Much House Can I Afford? | Salary Needed to Live in Austin | Cost of Living Calculator by City

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