US EditionThe 10 most affordable and most expensive US cities to buy a house
UNITED STATES, JUL 11 – Seven of the 10 cheapest U.S. housing markets are in the Rust Belt with roughly 50% lower home prices, while California hosts the six most expensive markets, Redfin found.
- As of May 2025, Redfin identified the ten U.S. cities with the highest and lowest housing affordability based on local median income and typical mortgage costs.
- The rankings reflect sharply rising home prices driven by limited housing supply, restrictive zoning, and post-pandemic demand.
- In cities such as San Luis Obispo, prospective home purchasers must earn more than $290,000 per year, which is significantly higher than the area's median income of about $90,000.
- Across the country, the percentage of homes affordable to the average buyer fell to 35% in 2025 from 60% in 2022, as increases in both home values and borrowing costs have made many properties unaffordable.
- Although prices are easing and listings rising in some markets, affordability gaps may widen further, suggesting many buyers remain sidelined.
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27 Articles
The 10 most affordable and most expensive US cities to buy a house | News Channel 3-12
Leonid Andronov // Shutterstock The 10 most affordable and most expensive US cities to buy a house For many people, buying a house is simply out of reach today. Housing costs have reached record highs, pricing buyers out and leaving more homes on the market than there have been in years. The data backs this up: Nationwide, just 35% of homes are affordable to the average homebuyer — down from 60% in 2022. Affordability has dropped since the pande…
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The 10 most affordable and most expensive US cities to buy a house
Redfin Real Estate reports that home affordability has declined, with only 35% of homes accessible to average buyers, highlighting geographic disparities in housing markets.
Central Coast cities among least affordable for homeownership, report finds
A new report by Consumer Affairs reveals homeownership on Californias Central Coast is becoming increasingly out of reach for many residents. The study ranks both Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo among the top 10 least affordable cities in the U.S. for buying a home.According to the report, buyers need to earn $324,300 a year to comfortably afford a typical home in Santa Maria, the fourth highest income requirement in the country. In San Luis Obi…
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