20 Big Cities Where You Can Earn Under $100K and Still Own a House
Let's face it, housing is becoming expensive everywhere, but it can be actually impossible to find affordable housing in the more popular places. However, not all big-city real estate is simply a playground for billionaires, as there are still booming metropolitan areas where you can earn under $100,000 and still afford to buy a house without having to sell any organs.
In fact, these places offer manageable cost‑of‑living expenses, making them ideal for first‑time buyers, young professionals and families looking to build equity. From rapidly growing Southern metros to underrated Midwest hubs, several U.S. cities still offer a realistic path to homeownership, even on a middle-class‑income salary.
Here are 20 affordable big cities where your income goes further, the housing market is still within reach and buying a home doesn’t require six‑figure earnings.
Go Cheaper: You Can Afford a Mortgage in These 13 Cities on Just $40K
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Key Findings
Five of the cities on this list — including Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, Toledo, Ohio and Memphis, Tennessee — have average monthly mortgage payments coming in under $1,000.
Texas has the most big cities on this list, with five, including such popular destinations as El Paso and San Antonio.
Only three cities on this list have an estimated cost-of-living that exceeds $3,000 a month, with New Orleans being the most expensive at $3,027.
1. Detroit
Median household income: $39,209
Average home value: $74,530
Average monthly mortgage: $410
Average annual cost of living: $25,464
2. Cleveland
Median household income: $43,383
Average home value: $110,507
Average monthly mortgage: $608
Average annual cost of living: $26,289
3. Toledo, Ohio
Median household income: $50,562
Average home value: $125,012
Average monthly mortgage: $688
Average annual cost of living: $27,390
4. Memphis, Tennessee
Median household income: $52,679
Average home value: $142,190
Average monthly mortgage: $782
Average annual cost of living: $29,251
5. St. Louis
Median household income: $53,374
Average home value: $178,888
Average monthly mortgage: $984
Average annual cost of living: $31,571
6. Baltimore
Median household income: $64,778
Average home value: $183,916
Average monthly mortgage: $1,012
Average annual cost of living: $32,875
7. Wichita, Kansas
Median household income: $65,855
Average home value: $197,336
Average monthly mortgage: $1,085
Average annual cost of living: $33,600
8. Laredo, Texas
Median household income: $61,519
Average home value: $217,622
Average monthly mortgage: $1,197
Average annual cost of living: $33,875
9. Lubbock, Texas
Median household income: $62,360
Average home value: $206,069
Average monthly mortgage: $1,133
Average annual cost of living: $33,968
10. Oklahoma City
Median household income: $70,040
Average home value: $205,183
Average monthly mortgage: $1,129
Average annual cost of living: $34,118
11. Milwaukee
Median household income: $56,792
Average home value: $215,459
Average monthly mortgage: $1,185
Average annual cost of living: $34,494
12. Corpus Christi, Texas
Median household income: $66,967
Average home value: $218,483
Average monthly mortgage: $1,202
Average annual cost of living: $34,571
13. Tulsa
Median household income: $60,930
Average home value: $217,574
Average monthly mortgage: $1,197
Average annual cost of living: $34,596
14. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Median household income: $61,436
Average home value: $235,170
Average monthly mortgage: $1,294
Average annual cost of living: $34,619
15. El Paso, Texas
Median household income: $59,932
Average home value: $230,660
Average monthly mortgage: $1,269
Average annual cost of living: $34,753
16. Indianapolis
Median household income: $66,900
Average home value: $230,309
Average monthly mortgage: $1,267
Average annual cost of living: $34,960
17. Pittsburgh
Median household income: $66,954
Average home value: $231,083
Average monthly mortgage: $1,271
Average annual cost of living: $35,949
18. San Antonio
Median household income: $66,176
Average home value: $247,776
Average monthly mortgage: $1,363
Average annual cost of living: $36,132
19. Cincinnati
Median household income: $56,910
Average home value: $248,164
Average monthly mortgage: $1,365
Average annual cost of living: $36,222
20. New Orleans
Median household income: $58,821
Average home value: $232,042
Average monthly mortgage: $1,276
Average annual cost of living: $36,324
Methodology: MoneyLion identified the largest 100 cities by population using the U.S. Census 2024 1-year ACS, along with median household income. The cost-of-living indices were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and cover the grocery, healthcare, transportation, utilities and miscellaneous. The average expenditure costs were sourced from the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units; using the cost-of-living indexes, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Average monthly mortgage was determined using Zillow Home Value Index, assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living in each location. All the places with a comfortable cost of living above $100,000 were removed from this study. The locations were sorted to show the lowest amount needed to live comfortably first. The median household income was scored and weighted at 1.00. The livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best places to own a home with a household income under $100,000. All data is up to date as of Dec. 29, 2025.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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