Median US home
$368,697
Zillow ZHVI, August 2026 · +1.2% YoY
30-year fixed rate
6.95%
Freddie Mac, September 17, 2026
Monthly payment
$2,426
20% down, incl. tax & insurance
Income needed
$104,000
Payment ≤ 28% of gross income
Key findings
- A household needs about $104,000 a year to afford the median US home ($368,697) with 20% down at 6.95%. With 10% down it's $121,600.
- San Jose, CA is the hardest major metro to buy into: $391,200 needed against a $95,634 median household income in San Jose, a 4.09× gap.
- In none of the 95 metros with income data does the median household in the principal city earn enough to buy the metro's median home with 20% down. The typical metro requires 1.87× its median household income; the closest to affordable is Toledo, OH at 1.28×.
- The most affordable large metro is Toledo, OH: $62,800 needed on a $205,237 median home.
- Across states, Hawaii requires the most ($202,900) and West Virginia the least ($49,700).
- Rates matter almost as much as prices: a one-point drop in the 30-year rate would cut the national income requirement by about $8,300 a year.
- Prices are still rising in 67 of 97 metros; Syracuse, NY leads at +6.7% over the past year, while Austin, TX fell -4.7%.
100 largest metros
Download CSV (free, attribution)Click a column header to sort · 97 metros
| # | Metro | Median home value | 12-mo change | Monthly payment (20% down) | Income needed (20% down) ↓ | Income needed (10% down) | Median household income* | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | San Jose, CA | $1,527,731 | +0.2% | $9,127 | $391,200 | $464,000 | $95,634 | 4.09× |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $1,123,193 | +2.3% | $6,746 | $289,100 | $342,600 | $92,345 | 3.13× |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $952,601 | +1.2% | $5,742 | $246,100 | $291,500 | $65,290 | 3.77× |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $930,785 | +0.5% | $5,613 | $240,600 | $284,900 | $69,845 | 3.44× |
| 71 | Oxnard, CA | $871,731 | +0.7% | $5,265 | $225,700 | $267,200 | $68,450 | 3.30× |
| 60 | Bridgeport, CT | $693,466 | +6.0% | $5,065 | $217,100 | $250,100 | $45,411 | 4.78× |
| 1 | New York, NY | $735,075 | +4.7% | $5,035 | $215,800 | $250,800 | $67,046 | 3.22× |
| 55 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $856,305 | +2.3% | $4,863 | $208,400 | $249,200 | $74,123 | 2.81× |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $733,574 | +2.1% | $4,729 | $202,700 | $237,600 | $76,321 | 2.66× |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $727,359 | -1.5% | $4,469 | $191,500 | $226,200 | $78,340 | 2.44× |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $581,454 | +0.2% | $3,557 | $152,400 | $180,100 | $57,234 | 2.66× |
| 39 | Providence, RI | $525,363 | +3.6% | $3,553 | $152,300 | $177,300 | $54,234 | 2.81× |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $573,336 | +0.2% | $3,543 | $151,900 | $179,200 | — | — |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $574,820 | -0.3% | $3,517 | $150,700 | $178,100 | $63,456 | 2.37× |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $559,705 | -1.9% | $3,376 | $144,700 | $171,400 | $69,452 | 2.08× |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $542,843 | -0.4% | $3,368 | $144,400 | $170,200 | $66,789 | 2.16× |
| 48 | Salt Lake City, UT | $560,068 | +1.3% | $3,337 | $143,000 | $169,700 | $63,456 | 2.25× |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $475,830 | -0.5% | $3,223 | $138,100 | $160,800 | $58,234 | 2.37× |
| 77 | Stockton, CA | $524,305 | -2.5% | $3,220 | $138,000 | $163,000 | $53,234 | 2.59× |
| 92 | Provo, UT | $539,276 | +1.8% | $3,216 | $137,800 | $163,500 | $60,234 | 2.29× |
| 58 | Worcester, MA | $479,429 | +2.1% | $3,140 | $134,600 | $157,400 | $50,155 | 2.68× |
| 88 | Madison, WI | $448,708 | +3.0% | $3,078 | $131,900 | $153,300 | $57,456 | 2.30× |
| 87 | Ogden, UT | $511,736 | +2.1% | $3,057 | $131,000 | $155,400 | $57,234 | 2.29× |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $417,977 | -4.7% | $3,054 | $130,900 | $150,800 | $71,349 | 1.83× |
| 68 | New Haven, CT | $409,372 | +4.9% | $3,051 | $130,800 | $150,300 | $42,168 | 3.10× |
| 49 | Hartford, CT | $402,457 | +5.3% | $3,002 | $128,700 | $147,800 | $40,182 | 3.20× |
| 79 | Boise City, ID | $493,522 | +1.4% | $2,973 | $127,400 | $150,900 | $60,234 | 2.12× |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $452,186 | -0.6% | $2,781 | $119,200 | $140,700 | $59,234 | 2.01× |
| 73 | North Port, FL | $402,040 | -3.1% | $2,777 | $119,000 | $138,200 | $48,234 | 2.47× |
| 80 | Colorado Springs, CO | $448,492 | -1.4% | $2,741 | $117,500 | $138,900 | $63,234 | 1.86× |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $442,078 | -1.2% | $2,711 | $116,200 | $137,300 | $59,142 | 1.96× |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $431,269 | -1.8% | $2,711 | $116,200 | $136,700 | $63,456 | 1.83× |
| 41 | Milwaukee, WI | $388,845 | +5.4% | $2,681 | $114,900 | $133,400 | $51,234 | 2.24× |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $360,437 | -2.3% | $2,673 | $114,500 | $131,700 | $61,248 | 1.87× |
| 75 | Charleston, SC | $431,797 | -0.4% | $2,671 | $114,500 | $135,100 | $58,234 | 1.97× |
| 22 | Orlando, FL | $383,445 | -1.8% | $2,665 | $114,200 | $132,500 | $58,234 | 1.96× |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $389,524 | +2.5% | $2,663 | $114,100 | $132,700 | $55,824 | 2.04× |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $357,265 | +4.9% | $2,658 | $113,900 | $130,900 | $58,984 | 1.93× |
| 64 | Albany, NY | $375,358 | +5.3% | $2,644 | $113,300 | $131,200 | $55,234 | 2.05× |
| 100 | Spokane, WA | $418,163 | +0.2% | $2,615 | $112,100 | $132,000 | $56,234 | 1.99× |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $400,263 | +0.6% | $2,595 | $111,200 | $130,300 | $54,328 | 2.05× |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $388,865 | +1.8% | $2,561 | $109,700 | $128,300 | $62,456 | 1.76× |
| 95 | Durham, NC | $405,282 | -2.2% | $2,556 | $109,600 | $128,900 | $62,345 | 1.76× |
| 30 | Las Vegas, NV | $423,983 | -2.7% | $2,541 | $108,900 | $129,100 | $59,234 | 1.84× |
| 57 | Fresno, CA | $407,407 | +1.2% | $2,532 | $108,500 | $127,900 | $56,234 | 1.93× |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $358,706 | -1.5% | $2,516 | $107,800 | $124,900 | $57,234 | 1.88× |
| 70 | Allentown, PA | $365,871 | +3.3% | $2,508 | $107,500 | $124,900 | $42,234 | 2.55× |
| 85 | Springfield, MA | $376,569 | +3.4% | $2,497 | $107,000 | $124,900 | $38,560 | 2.77× |
| 45 | Richmond, VA | $394,521 | +2.6% | $2,477 | $106,200 | $125,000 | $57,234 | 1.86× |
| 40 | Jacksonville, FL | $350,783 | -0.5% | $2,468 | $105,800 | $122,500 | $57,320 | 1.85× |
| 53 | Grand Rapids, MI | $357,283 | +4.9% | $2,453 | $105,100 | $122,200 | $48,410 | 2.17× |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC | $384,458 | -0.5% | $2,433 | $104,300 | $122,600 | $61,340 | 1.70× |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $377,428 | -1.6% | $2,426 | $104,000 | $122,000 | $62,348 | 1.67× |
| 97 | Palm Bay, FL | $341,944 | -0.9% | $2,414 | $103,500 | $119,800 | $52,340 | 1.98× |
| 78 | Cape Coral, FL | $335,410 | -4.4% | $2,375 | $101,800 | $117,800 | $58,420 | 1.74× |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | $373,040 | +2.9% | $2,349 | $100,700 | $118,500 | $67,234 | 1.50× |
| 90 | Deltona, FL | $330,389 | -0.9% | $2,345 | $100,500 | $116,200 | $48,923 | 2.05× |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $305,001 | -1.9% | $2,305 | $98,800 | $113,300 | $56,203 | 1.76× |
| 59 | Omaha, NE | $308,213 | +2.5% | $2,293 | $98,300 | $113,000 | $55,234 | 1.78× |
| 32 | Columbus, OH | $330,327 | +1.4% | $2,287 | $98,000 | $113,800 | $56,102 | 1.75× |
| 65 | Knoxville, TN | $364,988 | +2.0% | $2,278 | $97,600 | $115,000 | $54,234 | 1.80× |
| 63 | Bakersfield, CA | $362,787 | 0.0% | $2,269 | $97,200 | $114,500 | $54,234 | 1.79× |
| 62 | Albuquerque, NM | $349,919 | +1.5% | $2,182 | $93,500 | $110,200 | $54,123 | 1.73× |
| 31 | Kansas City, MO | $327,320 | +3.7% | $2,165 | $92,800 | $108,400 | $55,234 | 1.68× |
| 99 | Harrisburg, PA | $311,783 | +2.9% | $2,155 | $92,400 | $107,200 | $36,580 | 2.53× |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $308,426 | +2.4% | $2,143 | $91,900 | $106,500 | $55,234 | 1.66× |
| 82 | Lakeland, FL | $295,821 | -2.4% | $2,136 | $91,500 | $105,600 | $46,820 | 1.95× |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $276,747 | -1.9% | $2,118 | $90,800 | $104,000 | $52,641 | 1.72× |
| 54 | Tucson, AZ | $338,460 | -1.9% | $2,109 | $90,400 | $106,500 | $52,456 | 1.72× |
| 50 | Buffalo, NY | $291,683 | +4.1% | $2,088 | $89,500 | $103,400 | $48,234 | 1.86× |
| 84 | Des Moines, IA | $294,192 | +0.6% | $2,084 | $89,300 | $103,400 | $55,234 | 1.62× |
| 52 | Rochester, NY | $286,834 | +4.9% | $2,056 | $88,100 | $101,800 | $52,234 | 1.69× |
| 61 | Greenville, SC | $314,151 | +1.7% | $1,994 | $85,400 | $100,400 | $56,234 | 1.52× |
| 91 | Syracuse, NY | $270,832 | +6.7% | $1,950 | $83,600 | $96,500 | $51,234 | 1.63× |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $293,506 | +1.1% | $1,886 | $80,800 | $94,800 | $53,987 | 1.50× |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $267,167 | +2.1% | $1,872 | $80,200 | $93,000 | $44,823 | 1.79× |
| 21 | St. Louis, MO | $275,704 | +3.4% | $1,852 | $79,400 | $92,500 | — | — |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $280,129 | +1.5% | $1,844 | $79,000 | $92,400 | $53,456 | 1.48× |
| 69 | El Paso, TX | $234,069 | +2.2% | $1,835 | $78,600 | $89,800 | $48,365 | 1.63× |
| 89 | Winston, NC | $280,379 | +2.1% | $1,815 | $77,800 | $91,100 | $54,234 | 1.43× |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $261,002 | +2.1% | $1,804 | $77,300 | $89,800 | $48,234 | 1.60× |
| 56 | Tulsa, OK | $253,643 | +3.2% | $1,800 | $77,100 | $89,200 | $51,234 | 1.50× |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $253,678 | +3.9% | $1,783 | $76,400 | $88,500 | $32,210 | 2.37× |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $245,317 | +1.1% | $1,750 | $75,000 | $86,700 | $52,348 | 1.43× |
| 66 | Baton Rouge, LA | $248,895 | +2.6% | $1,734 | $74,300 | $86,200 | $50,234 | 1.48× |
| 76 | Greensboro, NC | $263,188 | +1.0% | $1,713 | $73,400 | $85,900 | $56,234 | 1.31× |
| 83 | Akron, OH | $242,459 | +4.2% | $1,710 | $73,300 | $84,800 | $38,120 | 1.92× |
| 94 | Wichita, KS | $224,280 | +3.2% | $1,685 | $72,200 | $82,900 | $51,234 | 1.41× |
| 96 | Augusta, GA | $252,841 | +2.8% | $1,680 | $72,000 | $84,100 | $38,920 | 1.85× |
| 51 | Birmingham, AL | $262,563 | +2.4% | $1,678 | $71,900 | $84,400 | $49,234 | 1.46× |
| 72 | Columbia, SC | $256,132 | +1.7% | $1,659 | $71,100 | $83,300 | $54,234 | 1.31× |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $232,122 | +0.2% | $1,634 | $70,000 | $81,100 | $51,688 | 1.35× |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $244,737 | +0.1% | $1,585 | $67,900 | $79,600 | $46,123 | 1.47× |
| 67 | McAllen, TX | $193,007 | -0.2% | $1,563 | $67,000 | $76,200 | $44,234 | 1.51× |
| 81 | Little Rock, AR | $231,747 | +3.8% | $1,564 | $67,000 | $78,100 | $50,234 | 1.33× |
| 98 | Jackson, MS | $214,315 | +2.9% | $1,468 | $62,900 | $73,100 | $47,234 | 1.33× |
| 93 | Toledo, OH | $205,237 | +3.3% | $1,465 | $62,800 | $72,600 | $49,234 | 1.28× |
*Median household income is for the metro's principal city (US Census ACS), not the whole metro, so suburbs-heavy metros will show a larger gap than a metro-wide figure would. Gap = income needed at 20% down ÷ median household income.
Every state, ranked
| # | State | Median home value | 12-mo change | Property tax | Monthly payment (20% down) | Income needed | First-time buyer help |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $833,340 | +1.1% | 0.32% | $4,735 | $202,900 | up to 4% DPA |
| 2 | California | $764,158 | +0.4% | 0.71% | $4,632 | $198,500 | up to 3.5% DPA |
| 3 | New Jersey | $580,353 | +3.9% | 2.47% | $4,393 | $188,300 | up to 4% DPA |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $661,896 | +2.3% | 1.15% | $4,281 | $183,500 | up to 10% DPA |
| 5 | Washington | $591,879 | -0.3% | 0.84% | $3,657 | $156,700 | up to 4% DPA |
| 6 | New York | $526,714 | +5.6% | 1.62% | $3,650 | $156,400 | up to 3% DPA |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $516,306 | +2.9% | 1.86% | $3,643 | $156,100 | up to 4% DPA |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $511,233 | +3.4% | 1.40% | $3,462 | $148,400 | up to 6% DPA |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $570,119 | -1.0% | 0.57% | $3,407 | $146,000 | up to 5% DPA |
| 10 | Connecticut | $450,873 | +5.0% | 2.15% | $3,345 | $143,400 | up to 5% DPA |
| 11 | Colorado | $532,748 | -1.4% | 0.49% | $3,222 | $138,100 | up to 3% DPA |
| 12 | Utah | $534,582 | +1.5% | 0.58% | $3,189 | $136,700 | up to 6% DPA |
| 13 | Oregon | $496,113 | -0.1% | 0.87% | $3,087 | $132,300 | up to 3% DPA |
| 14 | Montana | $471,746 | +2.0% | 0.74% | $2,939 | $126,000 | up to 5% DPA |
| 15 | Idaho | $478,744 | +2.0% | 0.63% | $2,887 | $123,700 | up to 7% DPA |
| 16 | Vermont | $399,053 | +1.0% | 1.90% | $2,837 | $121,600 | up to 3% DPA |
| 17 | Maryland | $428,308 | 0.0% | 1.05% | $2,768 | $118,600 | up to 6% DPA |
| 18 | Maine | $415,552 | +1.6% | 1.24% | $2,738 | $117,400 | up to 3.5% DPA |
| 19 | Nevada | $442,027 | -1.8% | 0.53% | $2,644 | $113,300 | up to 5% DPA |
| 20 | Florida | $375,470 | -1.5% | 0.89% | $2,617 | $112,100 | up to 5% DPA |
| 21 | Virginia | $414,662 | +2.2% | 0.80% | $2,597 | $111,300 | up to 2.5% DPA |
| 22 | Arizona | $417,990 | -1.1% | 0.62% | $2,571 | $110,200 | up to 5% DPA |
| 23 | Alaska | $398,663 | +5.7% | 1.04% | $2,565 | $109,900 | up to 4% DPA |
| 24 | Delaware | $406,074 | +1.3% | 0.53% | $2,430 | $104,100 | up to 5% DPA |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $339,699 | +5.1% | 1.61% | $2,355 | $100,900 | up to 6% DPA |
| 26 | Minnesota | $350,752 | +2.5% | 1.11% | $2,324 | $99,600 | up to 5% DPA |
| 27 | Texas | $299,367 | -1.6% | 1.60% | $2,268 | $97,200 | up to 5% DPA |
| 28 | Wyoming | $371,854 | +1.4% | 0.55% | $2,256 | $96,700 | up to 5% DPA |
| 29 | Illinois | $297,573 | +5.3% | 2.07% | $2,239 | $96,000 | up to 10% DPA |
| 30 | South Dakota | $321,574 | +2.5% | 1.22% | $2,197 | $94,100 | up to 5% DPA |
| 31 | Georgia | $330,817 | -0.5% | 0.83% | $2,147 | $92,000 | up to 5% DPA |
| 32 | North Carolina | $334,773 | 0.0% | 0.77% | $2,138 | $91,600 | up to 3% DPA |
| 33 | Nebraska | $280,673 | +3.1% | 1.73% | $2,108 | $90,300 | up to 5% DPA |
| 34 | Tennessee | $334,108 | +0.7% | 0.56% | $2,100 | $90,000 | up to 6% DPA |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $290,401 | +2.4% | 1.49% | $2,015 | $86,400 | up to 4% DPA |
| 36 | New Mexico | $318,241 | +1.7% | 0.67% | $1,996 | $85,600 | up to 4% DPA |
| 37 | South Carolina | $306,323 | +1.0% | 0.56% | $1,948 | $83,500 | up to 3% DPA |
| 38 | North Dakota | $292,293 | +5.2% | 0.98% | $1,945 | $83,400 | up to 3% DPA |
| 39 | Michigan | $266,292 | +4.0% | 1.38% | $1,866 | $80,000 | up to 4% DPA |
| 40 | Kansas | $249,603 | +3.8% | 1.41% | $1,848 | $79,200 | up to 5% DPA |
| 41 | Missouri | $267,879 | +3.5% | 0.91% | $1,805 | $77,400 | up to 4% DPA |
| 42 | Ohio | $248,803 | +3.4% | 1.53% | $1,751 | $75,100 | up to 5% DPA |
| 43 | Iowa | $239,547 | +3.5% | 1.57% | $1,724 | $73,900 | up to 5% DPA |
| 44 | Indiana | $260,095 | +3.0% | 0.81% | $1,686 | $72,300 | up to 4% DPA |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $223,261 | +2.8% | 0.90% | $1,616 | $69,300 | up to 5% DPA |
| 46 | Alabama | $241,613 | +1.9% | 0.40% | $1,560 | $66,900 | up to 4% DPA |
| 47 | Kentucky | $232,577 | -0.4% | 0.83% | $1,559 | $66,800 | up to 5% DPA |
| 48 | Louisiana | $217,039 | +2.1% | 0.56% | $1,551 | $66,500 | up to 4% DPA |
| 49 | Arkansas | $227,264 | +3.6% | 0.62% | $1,538 | $65,900 | up to 4% DPA |
| 50 | Mississippi | $197,606 | +2.3% | 0.65% | $1,370 | $58,700 | up to 3% DPA |
| 51 | West Virginia | $179,496 | +3.1% | 0.57% | $1,161 | $49,700 | up to 3% DPA |
Methodology
Home values are the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) for the mid-tier of homes (35th to 65th percentile), smoothed and seasonally adjusted, for August 2026. Metros are Zillow's 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas by size rank.
Mortgage rate is the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey 30-year fixed average for the week of September 17, 2026 (6.95%), taken from FRED series MORTGAGE30US.
Monthly payment = principal and interest on a 30-year loan for 80% of the home value (or 90% for the 10%-down scenario, plus private mortgage insurance at 0.6% of the loan per year), plus the state's effective property tax rate applied to the home value, plus the state's average homeowners insurance premium. HOA dues and utilities are excluded.
Income needed assumes the housing payment is 28% of gross income, the classic front-end ratio used by conventional lenders, rounded to the nearest $100.
Median household income is from the US Census American Community Survey for the metro's principal city, as compiled in Pulsafi's City Cost of Living Index. Two metros (Washington, DC and St. Louis) lack a matching city record and are shown without a gap ratio.
State property tax rates and insurance premiums are the same figures used across Pulsafi's state mortgage pages. The dataset was generated on 2026-09-19 and is rebuilt when Zillow publishes new monthly data.
Use this data
Journalists, researchers, and other sites may reuse any figure or the full CSV with a link back to this page. Suggested citation:
Pulsafi Research, “The Salary You Need to Buy a Home in Every Major US Metro” (August 2026). https://www.pulsafi.com/research/salary-needed-to-buy-a-home-2026
Questions or custom cuts of the data: contact us.