Cheapest big cities to buy a home (September 2026)
The lowest typical home values among the 100 biggest U.S. metro areas, with the income needed to afford them.
| Metro | Typical home | Income needed | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TX | $189k | $58k/yr | -0.4% |
| Toledo, OH | $202k | $60k/yr | +3.3% |
| Jackson, MS | $212k | $58k/yr | +2.7% |
| Wichita, KS | $222k | $68k/yr | +2.9% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $228k | $67k/yr | +0.2% |
| Little Rock, AR | $230k | $65k/yr | +3.7% |
| El Paso, TX | $233k | $72k/yr | +2.5% |
| Scranton, PA | $234k | $70k/yr | +2.3% |
| Akron, OH | $240k | $71k/yr | +4.0% |
| Memphis, TN | $242k | $71k/yr | +0.1% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $243k | $74k/yr | +1.0% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $246k | $71k/yr | +2.7% |
| Cleveland, OH | $250k | $75k/yr | +3.9% |
| Augusta, GA | $250k | $69k/yr | +2.9% |
| Tulsa, OK | $252k | $74k/yr | +3.1% |
| Columbia, SC | $253k | $66k/yr | +1.6% |
| New Orleans, LA | $257k | $83k/yr | +1.6% |
| Greensboro, NC | $261k | $71k/yr | +0.8% |
| Birmingham, AL | $261k | $70k/yr | +2.4% |
| Detroit, MI | $264k | $76k/yr | +1.8% |
| Syracuse, NY | $269k | $76k/yr | +6.6% |
| St. Louis, MO | $273k | $80k/yr | +3.3% |
| San Antonio, TX | $274k | $82k/yr | -1.9% |
| Winston, NC | $278k | $75k/yr | +1.7% |
| Louisville, KY | $279k | $78k/yr | +1.5% |
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Data Provided by Zillow Group (September 2026). Income needed assumes 20% down and 30% of income on housing.