Here's How Much Home Prices Have Outgrown Salaries in Every State Over the Years
While home prices have climbed far faster than median incomes across much of the U.S., the size of that gap depends heavily on where you live.
The most recent figures from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies place average home prices around 5 times higher than average median incomes, nationwide. That ratio was more like 3-to-1 in the 1990s, and 2025’s 5-to-1 marks represent all-time highs.
Also See: You Can Afford a Mortgage in These 13 Cities on Just $40K
Try Out: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
The gaps are uneven from state to state, and in some locales, median incomes have actually been making up ground. To demonstrate these differences, MoneyLion has analyzed data from Zillow and other sources to produce a state-by-state breakdown.
Over the past five years, Connecticut has seen the biggest discrepancy between home value increases (+49%) and median incomes (+20.9%). The largest gap over the past 10 years is seen in Idaho, where average housing prices have soared 140.6%, compared to an increase of just 67% in median incomes.
Read on for more key findings, followed by a look at the figures for all 50 states.
Key Findings
The largest affordability gaps over the past five years are concentrated in the Northeast. After Connecticut (28.1-point gap), the next states in line are New Hampshire (25.9), New York (23.8), New Jersey (22.8), and Rhode Island (21.4).
On the other end of the spectrum, places that saw income growth roughly keep pace with housing or even exceed it included Louisiana (-16.6), Colorado (-3.4), Oregon (-3.2), Alaska (-2.6) and Mississippi (-1.4).
Over the past 10 years, the biggest affordability gaps following Idaho (73.7) have been seen in New Hampshire (62.3), Maine (55.4), Utah (52.4), Indiana (50.6), Tennessee (49.1) and Montana (48.6).
Income growth managed to outpace housing growth over the past 10 years in Louisiana (−23.8), North Dakota (−12.9) and Mississippi (−3.8).
Check out the difference in home prices vs. salaries in every state, ranked from the highest disparity over five years.
1. Connecticut
January home values: $449,376
Median income: $101,009
5-year change
Home values: 49.0%
Income: 20.9%
Difference: 28.2%
10-year change
Home values: 78.4%
Income: 40.8%
Difference: 37.6%
2. New Hampshire
January home values: $509,835
Median income: $104,437
5-year change
Home values: 51.1%
Income: 25.2%
Difference: 25.9%
10-year change
Home values: 114.8%
Income: 52.5%
Difference: 62.3%
3. New York
January home values: $473,671
Median income: $90,667
5-year change
Home values: 44.5%
Income: 20.6%
Difference: 23.8%
10-year change
Home values: 93.2%
Income: 49.3%
Difference: 43.9%
4. New Jersey
January home values: $577,483
Median income: $109,209
5-year change
Home values: 44.5%
Income: 21.8%
Difference: 22.8%
10-year change
Home values: 83.9%
Income: 48.2%
Difference: 35.7%
5. Rhode Island
January home values: $497,023
Median income: $92,588
5-year change
Home values: 45.7%
Income: 24.3%
Difference: 21.4%
10-year change
Home values: 104.1%
Income: 58.6%
Difference: 45.5%
6. Montana
January home values: $451,564
Median income: $76,467
5-year change
Home values: 47.4%
Income: 26.3%
Difference: 21.1%
10-year change
Home values: 106.6%
Income: 58.1%
Difference: 48.6%
7. Wisconsin
January home values: $321,914
Median income: $81,715
5-year change
Home values: 40.7%
Income: 21.8%
Difference: 18.9%
10-year change
Home values: 95.9%
Income: 49.6%
Difference: 46.3%
8. Maine
January home values: $391,892
Median income: $78,812
5-year change
Home values: 43.3%
Income: 24.7%
Difference: 18.6%
10-year change
Home values: 110.5%
Income: 55.1%
Difference: 55.4%
9. Kansas
January home values: $236,709
Median income: $78,329
5-year change
Home values: 39.9%
Income: 21.4%
Difference: 18.5%
10-year change
Home values: 83.7%
Income: 46.2%
Difference: 37.5%
10. Indiana
January home values: $247,210
Median income: $75,885
5-year change
Home values: 40.6%
Income: 22.5%
Difference: 18.1%
10-year change
Home values: 101.0%
Income: 50.5%
Difference: 50.6%
11. Ohio
January home values: $237,149
Median income: $75,286
5-year change
Home values: 38.2%
Income: 21.6%
Difference: 16.6%
10-year change
Home values: 92.4%
Income: 48.6%
Difference: 43.8%
12. Illinois
January home values: $282,832
Median income: $87,942
5-year change
Home values: 37.2%
Income: 21.2%
Difference: 16%
10-year change
Home values: 72.2%
Income: 48.6%
Difference: 23.7%
13. Oklahoma
January home values: $215,458
Median income: $68,589
5-year change
Home values: 35.5%
Income: 20.4%
Difference: 15%
10-year change
Home values: 76.1%
Income: 42.8%
Difference: 33.3%
14. Tennessee
January home values: $325,430
Median income: $73,394
5-year change
Home values: 40.1%
Income: 25.4%
Difference: 14.7%
10-year change
Home values: 106.6%
Income: 57.6%
Difference: 49.1%
15. Missouri
January home values: $256,284
Median income: $74,561
5-year change
Home values: 36.7%
Income: 22.2%
Difference: 14.5%
10-year change
Home values: 87.5%
Income: 50.4%
Difference: 37.2%
16. Nebraska
January home values: $268,014
Median income: $80,649
5-year change
Home values: 35.3%
Income: 21.0%
Difference: 14.3%
10-year change
Home values: 85.9%
Income: 48.3%
Difference: 37.6%
17. Massachusetts
January home values: $660,288
Median income: $109,635
5-year change
Home values: 37.3%
Income: 23.2%
Difference: 14.2%
10-year change
Home values: 85.7%
Income: 54.5%
Difference: 31.2%
18. Georgia
January home values: $328,779
Median income: $81,575
5-year change
Home values: 38.9%
Income: 25.4%
Difference: 13.5%
10-year change
Home values: 104.4%
Income: 59.8%
Difference: 44.5%
19. Michigan
January home values: $247,286
Median income: $76,853
5-year change
Home values: 34.8%
Income: 21.6%
Difference: 13.2%
10-year change
Home values: 96.1%
Income: 51.3%
Difference: 44.8%
20. Kentucky
January home values: $224,644
Median income: $67,204
5-year change
Home values: 34.4%
Income: 21.2%
Difference: 13.2%
10-year change
Home values: 86.3%
Income: 50.0%
Difference: 36.4%
21. Wyoming
January home values: $351,366
Median income: $80,334
5-year change
Home values: 31.0%
Income: 18.1%
Difference: 12.9%
10-year change
Home values: 56.2%
Income: 35.8%
Difference: 20.4%
22. New Mexico
January home values: $309,149
Median income: $67,556
5-year change
Home values: 37.8%
Income: 25.1%
Difference: 12.7%
10-year change
Home values: 81.7%
Income: 47.9%
Difference: 33.8%
23. North Carolina
January home values: $330,474
Median income: $76,339
5-year change
Home values: 38.8%
Income: 26.2%
Difference: 12.7%
10-year change
Home values: 98.2%
Income: 58.2%
Difference: 40%
24. South Dakota
January home values: $308,565
Median income: $79,179
5-year change
Home values: 36.2%
Income: 23.9%
Difference: 12.4%
10-year change
Home values: 78.7%
Income: 52.0%
Difference: 26.7%
25. Iowa
January home values: $229,167
Median income: $79,156
5-year change
Home values: 33.1%
Income: 21.0%
Difference: 12.1%
10-year change
Home values: 67.7%
Income: 45.1%
Difference: 22.7%
26. South Carolina
January home values: $300,513
Median income: $73,108
5-year change
Home values: 37.2%
Income: 25.5%
Difference: 11.6%
10-year change
Home values: 87.1%
Income: 55.9%
Difference: 31.2%
27. Virginia
January home values: $408,404
Median income: $98,256
5-year change
Home values: 32.9%
Income: 21.9%
Difference: 11%
10-year change
Home values: 68.4%
Income: 48.5%
Difference: 19.9%
28. Florida
January home values: $390,223
Median income: $78,638
5-year change
Home values: 36.8%
Income: 27.3%
Difference: 9.5%
10-year change
Home values: 96.9%
Income: 60.8%
Difference: 36.1%
29. Pennsylvania
January home values: $276,853
Median income: $82,227
5-year change
Home values: 30.6%
Income: 21.7%
Difference: 9%
10-year change
Home values: 70.9%
Income: 49.8%
Difference: 21.1%
30. Delaware
January home values: $396,252
Median income: $89,591
5-year change
Home values: 32.0%
Income: 23.2%
Difference: 8.8%
10-year change
Home values: 65.0%
Income: 46.8%
Difference: 18.2%
31. Nevada
January home values: $457,372
Median income: $82,532
5-year change
Home values: 33.7%
Income: 25.7%
Difference: 8%
10-year change
Home values: 98.2%
Income: 55.5%
Difference: 42.8%
32. Hawaii
January home values: $956,542
Median income: $105,869
5-year change
Home values: 28.2%
Income: 20.3%
Difference: 7.9%
10-year change
Home values: 61.9%
Income: 47.1%
Difference: 14.8%
33. Utah
January home values: $537,712
Median income: $100,361
5-year change
Home values: 34.3%
Income: 26.8%
Difference: 7.5%
10-year change
Home values: 112.9%
Income: 60.5%
Difference: 52.3%
34. Arkansas
Median income: $64,090
5-year change
Home values: 29.8%
Income: 23.0%
Difference: 6.8%
10-year change
Home values: 64.9%
Income: 51.4%
Difference: 13.5%
35. West Virginia
January home values: $168,181
Median income: $62,862
5-year change
Home values: 28.3%
Income: 23.5%
Difference: 4.8%
10-year change
Home values: 54.2%
Income: 47.4%
Difference: 6.8%
36. Alabama
January home values: $226,595
Median income: $67,492
5-year change
Home values: 27.2%
Income: 22.8%
Difference: 4.3%
10-year change
Home values: 67.3%
Income: 50.8%
Difference: 16.5%
37. Vermont
January home values: $385,364
Median income: $85,635
5-year change
Home values: 30.3%
Income: 26.5%
Difference: 3.8%
10-year change
Home values: 65.3%
Income: 52.6%
Difference: 12.6%
38. Minnesota
January home values: $342,425
Median income: $93,923
5-year change
Home values: 24.0%
Income: 20.9%
Difference: 3.1%
10-year change
Home values: 71.2%
Income: 48.6%
Difference: 22.6%
39. Washington
January home values: $600,235
Median income: $103,498
5-year change
Home values: 28.7%
Income: 25.6%
Difference: 3.1%
10-year change
Home values: 105.4%
Income: 64.7%
Difference: 40.7%
40. Maryland
January home values: $435,954
Median income: $109,337
5-year change
Home values: 22.6%
Income: 19.6%
Difference: 3%
10-year change
Home values: 52.1%
Income: 43.7%
Difference: 8.4%
41. California
January home values: $778,888
Median income: $104,533
5-year change
Home values: 27.1%
Income: 24.3%
Difference: 2.8%
10-year change
Home values: 83.0%
Income: 63.9%
Difference: 19.1%
42. North Dakota
January home values: $279,837
Median income: $80,841
5-year change
Home values: 21.3%
Income: 18.7%
Difference: 2.6%
10-year change
Home values: 23.8%
Income: 36.8%
Difference: -12.9%
43. Texas
January home values: $296,234
Median income: $82,760
5-year change
Home values: 25.5%
Income: 22.9%
Difference: 2.5%
10-year change
Home values: 70.5%
Income: 51.2%
Difference: 19.3%
44. Arizona
January home values: $426,486
Median income: $84,329
5-year change
Home values: 30.2%
Income: 27.9%
Difference: 2.3%
10-year change
Home values: 96.3%
Income: 64.3%
Difference: 32.1%
45. Idaho
January home values: $462,248
Median income: $82,047
5-year change
Home values: 31.3%
Income: 29.5%
Difference: 1.9%
10-year change
Home values: 140.6%
Income: 66.9%
Difference: 73.7%
46. Mississippi
January home values: $185,617
Median income: $59,528
5-year change
Home values: 19.8%
Income: 21.2%
Difference: -1.4%
10-year change
Home values: 43.0%
Income: 46.9%
Difference: -3.8%
47. Alaska
January home values: $392,090
Median income: $97,853
5-year change
Home values: 19.3%
Income: 21.9%
Difference: -2.6%
10-year change
Home values: 38.5%
Income: 31.5%
Difference: 7.1%
48. Oregon
January home values: $495,416
Median income: $87,542
5-year change
Home values: 21.8%
Income: 24.9%
Difference: -3.2%
10-year change
Home values: 78.5%
Income: 64.3%
Difference: 14.2%
49. Colorado
January home values: $542,482
Median income: $100,681
5-year change
Home values: 22.2%
Income: 25.6%
Difference: -3.4%
10-year change
Home values: 75.3%
Income: 61.0%
Difference: 14.2%
50. Louisiana
January home values: $208,026
Median income: $64,072
5-year change
Home values: 3.0%
Income: 19.6%
Difference: -16.6%
10-year change
Home values: 16.5%
Income: 40.4%
Difference: -23.8%
Methodology: For this piece, MoneyLion looked at median household income by state in 2016, 2021 and 2024 and then compared those figures to the home values from the same years. MoneyLion sourced these figures from Zillow’s January 2026 data and took the January 2026, January 2021 and January 2016 home values for each state. To find the monthly mortgage for each year, MoneyLion used Freddie Mac to find the 30-year fixed mortgage rate for the last week of January in each year. For 2026, that was 6.10%. In 2021, it was 2.73%. In 2016, it was 3.79%. Mortgages were calculated assuming a 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, with no property taxes, HOA or insurance included. MoneyLion was then able to determine the salary needed to comfortably afford a mortgage in each year by assuming no more than 28% of pre-tax income spent on a mortgage. MoneyLion found both the monetary and percent changes in home value and median household income between the years. All data is up to date as of March 2, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: