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National rankings

Most affordable towns in the U.S.

Ranked by how many years of a typical U.S. household income ($80,734) it takes to buy each town's median home. Lower is easier to buy in. Top 100 towns and cities with 10,000+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Map of Flowing Wells 1 Flowing Wells AZ 0.5 yrs $41,100 median home Johnstown 2 Johnstown PA 0.6 yrs $45,400 median home 3 Raymondville TX 0.6 yrs $52,200 median home
#TownYears of incomeHome valueMedian income
1 Map of Flowing Wells Flowing WellsAZ · 16,559 people 0.5 yrs $41,100 $39,774
2 Johnstown JohnstownPA · 18,087 people 0.6 yrs $45,400 $37,888
3 RaymondvilleTX · 10,185 people 0.6 yrs $52,200 $51,442
4 East St. LouisSt. Clair County, IL · 17,999 people 0.7 yrs $52,600 $35,700
5 Map of Flint FlintMI · 80,175 people 0.7 yrs $53,500 $37,646
6 Cahokia HeightsIL · 17,106 people 0.7 yrs $56,000 $33,792
7 Map of Centreville CentrevilleSt. Clair County, IL · 19,674 people 0.7 yrs $59,200 $34,675
8 SaginawSaginaw County, MI · 43,536 people 0.7 yrs $60,000 $38,579
9 Map of Youngstown YoungstownOH · 59,331 people 0.8 yrs $63,300 $34,408
10 East ClevelandOH · 13,534 people 0.9 yrs $68,800 $22,116
11 Jennings JenningsMO · 12,918 people 0.9 yrs $68,800 $38,984
12 Map of McKeesport McKeesportPA · 17,380 people 0.9 yrs $72,700 $34,219
13 KewaneeIL · 11,913 people 0.9 yrs $73,200 $50,886
14 New CastlePA · 21,579 people 1.0 yrs $77,400 $42,219
15 SharonPA · 12,936 people 1.0 yrs $78,800 $45,670
16 DanvilleVermilion County, IL · 28,595 people 1.0 yrs $79,000 $45,957
17 Inkster InksterMI · 25,428 people 1.0 yrs $80,400 $39,252
18 SweetwaterTX · 10,385 people 1.0 yrs $80,800 $44,892
19 Map of Chester ChesterPA · 33,619 people 1.0 yrs $83,100 $41,342
20 CenterGrant County, IN · 21,543 people 1.0 yrs $83,500 $42,698
21 Map of Detroit DetroitMI · 638,530 people 1.0 yrs $83,900 $39,938
22 Map of Clarksdale ClarksdaleMS · 14,231 people 1.0 yrs $83,900 $36,382
23 WaycrossGA · 13,756 people 1.0 yrs $84,100 $38,301
24 MarionIN · 27,531 people 1.1 yrs $85,300 $43,343
25 San BenitoTX · 24,709 people 1.1 yrs $85,300 $43,639
26 PrichardAL · 18,961 people 1.1 yrs $85,700 $36,588
27 DonnaTX · 16,833 people 1.1 yrs $86,100 $40,438
28 OleanNY · 13,738 people 1.1 yrs $86,100 $51,261
29 Warren WarrenOH · 38,912 people 1.1 yrs $86,400 $37,887
30 DecaturMacon County, IL · 46,586 people 1.1 yrs $86,700 $48,870
31 Arkansas CityKS · 11,884 people 1.1 yrs $86,800 $49,629
32 ColomaWhiteside County, IL · 10,446 people 1.1 yrs $86,800 $52,152
33 Fostoria FostoriaOH · 12,344 people 1.1 yrs $87,200 $54,151
34 Jamestown JamestownNY · 28,188 people 1.1 yrs $87,700 $43,523
35 Harvey HarveyIL · 20,230 people 1.1 yrs $88,100 $42,429
36 Pine BluffAR · 39,743 people 1.1 yrs $89,400 $42,718
37 CentraliaIL · 11,856 people 1.1 yrs $89,600 $47,807
38 PigeonVanderburgh County, IN · 27,040 people 1.1 yrs $90,200 $42,766
39 Centralia CentraliaMarion County, IL · 14,039 people 1.1 yrs $91,200 $51,444
40 Forrest City Forrest CityAR · 12,646 people 1.1 yrs $92,000 $35,689
41 FreeportStephenson County, IL · 23,505 people 1.1 yrs $92,100 $51,723
42 LogansportIN · 17,790 people 1.1 yrs $92,200 $47,291
43 Map of Peru PeruMiami County, IN · 10,901 people 1.1 yrs $92,500 $46,159
44 Map of Elmira ElmiraNY · 26,257 people 1.2 yrs $93,000 $43,120
45 BruceLaSalle County, IL · 11,794 people 1.2 yrs $94,200 $53,477
46 Map of Fort Madison Fort MadisonIA · 10,133 people 1.2 yrs $94,200 $50,705
47 HarrisonMontgomery County, OH · 21,751 people 1.2 yrs $94,300 $45,125
48 RomaTX · 11,545 people 1.2 yrs $94,400 $24,579
49 MassenaNY · 10,238 people 1.2 yrs $94,400 $51,458
50 Map of Gary GaryIN · 68,113 people 1.2 yrs $94,700 $38,731
51 BeevilleTX · 13,412 people 1.2 yrs $94,700 $50,784
52 DunkirkNY · 12,549 people 1.2 yrs $94,700 $53,299
53 StreatorIL · 12,330 people 1.2 yrs $94,700 $57,609
54 CenterDelaware County, IN · 64,560 people 1.2 yrs $94,800 $44,165
55 Map of Eel EelCass County, IN · 18,518 people 1.2 yrs $94,900 $47,617
56 Mount MorrisGenesee County, MI · 19,752 people 1.2 yrs $95,300 $46,535
57 Federal HeightsCO · 14,125 people 1.2 yrs $95,300 $56,597
58 Galesburg City Galesburg CityKnox County, IL · 29,481 people 1.2 yrs $96,400 $48,297
59 GalesburgIL · 29,481 people 1.2 yrs $96,400 $48,297
60 MattoonColes County, IL · 14,496 people 1.2 yrs $96,400 $53,811
61 Map of Selma SelmaAL · 17,057 people 1.2 yrs $96,500 $33,197
62 Rock Island Rock IslandRock Island County, IL · 15,831 people 1.2 yrs $96,500 $41,155
63 MuncieIN · 64,751 people 1.2 yrs $97,300 $44,471
64 AbbevilleLA · 11,003 people 1.2 yrs $97,300 $33,015
65 Bay CityMI · 32,320 people 1.2 yrs $97,600 $49,420
66 Map of Bogalusa BogalusaLA · 10,468 people 1.2 yrs $97,600 $30,749
67 MattoonIL · 16,586 people 1.2 yrs $97,700 $51,597
68 CantonOH · 69,755 people 1.2 yrs $97,800 $43,188
69 Maple HeightsOH · 23,258 people 1.2 yrs $97,900 $53,414
70 New CastleIN · 17,367 people 1.2 yrs $98,000 $51,606
71 MartinsvilleVA · 13,658 people 1.2 yrs $98,400 $46,727
72 OkmulgeeOK · 11,348 people 1.2 yrs $98,400 $41,848
73 Map of McComb McCombMS · 12,049 people 1.2 yrs $98,700 $40,707
74 Map of Decatur DecaturIL · 69,815 people 1.2 yrs $99,600 $51,592
75 Map of Bellefontaine Neighbors Bellefontaine NeighborsMO · 10,498 people 1.2 yrs $99,700 $49,170
76 Mount VernonIL · 14,090 people 1.2 yrs $99,800 $55,357
77 PottsvillePA · 13,364 people 1.2 yrs $100,500 $54,332
78 Map of Dayton DaytonOH · 136,579 people 1.2 yrs $100,600 $45,247
79 Map of Pampa PampaTX · 16,659 people 1.2 yrs $100,700 $56,626
80 FultonNY · 11,272 people 1.3 yrs $101,000 $52,046
81 Map of Pease PeaseBelmont County, OH · 12,555 people 1.3 yrs $101,400 $50,755
82 ClevelandOH · 366,097 people 1.3 yrs $102,000 $40,801
83 Map of Mount Vernon Mount VernonJefferson County, IL · 12,335 people 1.3 yrs $102,500 $56,971
84 Map of Robstown RobstownTX · 10,236 people 1.3 yrs $103,000 $34,436
85 Yazoo City Yazoo CityMS · 10,219 people 1.3 yrs $103,000 $28,157
86 Map of Jackson JacksonMI · 31,058 people 1.3 yrs $103,200 $44,558
87 AldineTX · 17,167 people 1.3 yrs $103,200 $44,455
88 PortsmouthOH · 17,728 people 1.3 yrs $103,300 $34,713
89 Macomb CityMcDonough County, IL · 14,894 people 1.3 yrs $103,300 $44,411
90 MacombIL · 14,894 people 1.3 yrs $103,300 $44,411
91 Borger BorgerTX · 12,226 people 1.3 yrs $103,400 $61,583
92 Map of Alton AltonMadison County, IL · 25,279 people 1.3 yrs $103,700 $54,568
93 Map of Greenville GreenvilleMS · 28,166 people 1.3 yrs $103,800 $40,083
94 SnyderTX · 11,241 people 1.3 yrs $104,000 $57,902
95 Map of Taylorville TaylorvilleChristian County, IL · 10,646 people 1.3 yrs $104,100 $57,552
96 Granite City Granite CityMadison County, IL · 26,549 people 1.3 yrs $104,300 $59,205
97 MalvernAR · 10,953 people 1.3 yrs $104,500 $46,250
98 Map of Kankakee KankakeeKankakee County, IL · 23,996 people 1.3 yrs $104,900 $47,514
99 OpelousasLA · 15,495 people 1.3 yrs $105,100 $32,964
100 East ChicagoIN · 26,022 people 1.3 yrs $105,400 $42,125

How this ranking works

We divide each town’s median home value by the U.S. median household income ($80,734). The result is how many years of a typical paycheck it takes to buy a typical home there. Lower is more affordable. Across the U.S. as a whole it’s 4.1 years.

Why not each town’s own income? That would rank wealthy towns with half-million-dollar homes as “affordable” only because their residents earn so much. One shared income answers the question people actually ask: where could a typical family afford to live?

Only towns with at least 10,000 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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