Home prices vary enormously across America β€” by 5x or more between the cheapest and most expensive markets. Here’s every major metro.

Quick answer: National median: $420,000. Cheapest: Detroit ($210K), Memphis ($215K). Most expensive: San Jose ($1.55M), San Francisco ($1.35M).

National Overview

Metric Value
Median existing home price $420,000
Median new construction price $450,000
Median household income $75,149
National price-to-income ratio 5.6x
Year-over-year price change +3.5%
Months of inventory 3.5 months
Homeownership rate 65.6%
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Most Expensive Metro Areas

Rank Metro Area Median Home Price YoY Change Price-to-Income Ratio
1 San Jose, CA $1,550,000 +5.2% 10.1x
2 San Francisco, CA $1,350,000 +3.8% 9.8x
3 Honolulu, HI $1,050,000 +2.5% 12.4x
4 San Diego, CA $950,000 +6.1% 10.5x
5 Los Angeles, CA $920,000 +4.5% 11.3x
6 Seattle, WA $820,000 +4.2% 8.1x
7 Orange County, CA $1,100,000 +5.0% 10.8x
8 Boston, MA $750,000 +4.8% 7.8x
9 New York, NY $680,000 +2.1% 7.9x
10 Denver, CO $620,000 +1.5% 6.8x
11 Washington, DC $610,000 +3.2% 5.5x
12 Portland, OR $580,000 +1.2% 7.2x
13 Miami, FL $575,000 +5.5% 9.2x
14 Sacramento, CA $560,000 +4.8% 7.1x
15 Salt Lake City, UT $540,000 +2.0% 6.3x

Mid-Range Markets

Rank Metro Area Median Home Price YoY Change Price-to-Income Ratio
16 Austin, TX $480,000 -1.5% 5.8x
17 Nashville, TN $470,000 +3.2% 6.5x
18 Phoenix, AZ $445,000 +1.8% 6.2x
19 Tampa, FL $395,000 +2.5% 6.0x
20 Minneapolis, MN $380,000 +2.0% 4.5x
21 Charlotte, NC $375,000 +4.5% 5.2x
22 Raleigh, NC $420,000 +3.8% 5.0x
23 Dallas, TX $400,000 +0.5% 5.3x
24 Atlanta, GA $385,000 +3.0% 5.1x
25 Chicago, IL $350,000 +4.0% 4.5x
26 Houston, TX $340,000 +1.0% 4.6x
27 Orlando, FL $390,000 +2.8% 6.3x
28 Las Vegas, NV $420,000 +3.5% 6.8x
29 Richmond, VA $380,000 +3.5% 5.0x
30 Jacksonville, FL $360,000 +2.0% 5.2x

Most Affordable Metro Areas

Rank Metro Area Median Home Price YoY Change Price-to-Income Ratio
1 Cleveland, OH $205,000 +5.5% 3.8x
2 Detroit, MI $210,000 +6.2% 3.9x
3 Memphis, TN $215,000 +4.0% 3.7x
4 Pittsburgh, PA $220,000 +3.5% 3.6x
5 Birmingham, AL $225,000 +4.2% 3.8x
6 St. Louis, MO $238,000 +3.0% 3.5x
7 Buffalo, NY $235,000 +7.0% 3.9x
8 Louisville, KY $252,000 +3.8% 3.8x
9 Oklahoma City, OK $240,000 +2.5% 3.5x
10 Kansas City, MO $285,000 +3.2% 3.7x
11 Indianapolis, IN $280,000 +4.5% 3.8x
12 San Antonio, TX $295,000 +1.5% 4.5x
13 Cincinnati, OH $270,000 +5.0% 3.8x
14 Columbus, OH $310,000 +4.5% 4.2x
15 Milwaukee, WI $295,000 +5.5% 4.5x

Income Required to Afford a Home (by Metro)

Based on 28% front-end ratio, 20% down payment, 6.5% mortgage rate:

Metro Median Price Down Payment (20%) Monthly Payment Income Required Median HH Income Affordable?
San Jose $1,550,000 $310,000 $7,841 $336,043 $154,000 ❌
San Francisco $1,350,000 $270,000 $6,828 $292,629 $137,000 ❌
Los Angeles $920,000 $184,000 $4,654 $199,457 $81,000 ❌
Seattle $820,000 $164,000 $4,149 $177,829 $110,000 ❌
Boston $750,000 $150,000 $3,795 $162,643 $96,000 ❌
Denver $620,000 $124,000 $3,137 $134,443 $93,000 ❌
Miami $575,000 $115,000 $2,909 $124,671 $62,000 ❌
Nashville $470,000 $94,000 $2,378 $101,914 $72,000 ❌
Dallas $400,000 $80,000 $2,024 $86,743 $75,000 ❌ (borderline)
Atlanta $385,000 $77,000 $1,948 $83,486 $78,000 ❌ (borderline)
National $420,000 $84,000 $2,125 $91,071 $75,149 ❌
Houston $340,000 $68,000 $1,720 $73,714 $74,000 βœ… (barely)
Indianapolis $280,000 $56,000 $1,417 $60,729 $74,000 βœ…
Pittsburgh $220,000 $44,000 $1,113 $47,700 $62,000 βœ…
Cleveland $205,000 $41,000 $1,037 $44,443 $54,000 βœ…

Price Growth by Metro (2019 vs. 2026)

Metro 2019 Price 2026 Price $ Change % Change
Tampa, FL $235,000 $395,000 +$160,000 +68%
Phoenix, AZ $275,000 $445,000 +$170,000 +62%
Miami, FL $350,000 $575,000 +$225,000 +64%
Austin, TX $310,000 $480,000 +$170,000 +55%
Boise, ID $285,000 $470,000 +$185,000 +65%
Nashville, TN $290,000 $470,000 +$180,000 +62%
Charlotte, NC $240,000 $375,000 +$135,000 +56%
Dallas, TX $260,000 $400,000 +$140,000 +54%
Salt Lake City, UT $340,000 $540,000 +$200,000 +59%
San Francisco, CA $1,100,000 $1,350,000 +$250,000 +23%

Sunbelt and Mountain West metros saw the biggest post-pandemic gains.

Hottest and Coolest Markets (2026)

Hottest (Fastest Appreciation)

Metro YoY Price Change Months of Inventory Days on Market
Buffalo, NY +7.0% 1.8 22
Hartford, CT +6.8% 2.0 25
Detroit, MI +6.2% 2.2 28
San Diego, CA +6.1% 2.5 30
Cleveland, OH +5.5% 2.0 24

Coolest (Price Decline or Stagnation)

Metro YoY Price Change Months of Inventory Days on Market
Austin, TX -1.5% 5.5 62
San Antonio, TX +1.5% 5.0 55
Portland, OR +1.2% 4.2 48
Denver, CO +1.5% 4.0 45
Houston, TX +1.0% 4.5 50

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Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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