Mortgage Rates Are Up: Here Are The 35 Best Hidden Gem Housing Markets
What was once an achievable goal on a single income has become a far-fetched dream for many people. Whether you are scrolling on Zillow to torture yourself with out-of-reach real estate or actively house hunting, most property searches will leave you asking yourself if there is any housing market left in America that is still affordable.
Before you give up hope, the good news is that MoneyLion found several hidden gem housing markets across the country based on average home values of the ranked cities in comparison to the state they are in. Comparing mortgage rates, loan amounts and down payments from market to market can go a long way toward saving you thousands just based on geography before you move.
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Key Findings
Eight cities have average monthly mortgage payments coming in over $2,000 a month. Roseville, California, is the only city in this ranking with the mortgage expense estimated at over $3,000 a month.
Four towns have a median household income under $50,000 a year: Erie, Pennsylvania; Akron, Ohio; and Rochester and Syracuse, New York.
Four cities have an average home value of less than $200,000. The lowest average home values on this list exist in Akron, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan; Macon, Georgia; and Baltimore, Maryland.
Here are the 35 best hidden gem housing markets across the country.
1. Worcester, Massachusetts
City average home value: $452,463
State average home value: $686,558
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$234,095
15% down payment: $67,869
Loan amount: $384,594
Annual mortgage cost: $30,550
2. Visalia, California
City average home value: $400,447
State average home value: $789,119
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$388,672
15% down payment: $60,067
Loan amount: $340,380
Annual mortgage cost: $27,038
3. Pensacola, Florida
City average home value: $262,519
State average home value: $397,000
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$134,481
15% down payment: $39,378
Loan amount: $223,141
Annual mortgage cost: $17,725
4. Springfield, Massachusetts
City average home value: $308,368
State average home value: $686,558
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$378,190
15% down payment: $46,255
Loan amount: $262,113
Annual mortgage cost: $20,821
5. Syracuse, New York
City average home value: $224,188
State average home value: $505,848
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$281,660
15% down payment: $33,628
Loan amount: $190,560
Annual mortgage cost: $15,137
6. Baltimore, Maryland
City average home value: $184,561
State average home value: $444,314
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$259,753
15% down payment: $27,684
Loan amount: $156,877
Annual mortgage cost: $12,461
7. Tallahassee, Florida
City average home value: $305,442
State average home value: $397,000
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$91,558
15% down payment: $45,816
Loan amount: $259,626
Annual mortgage cost: $20,623
8. Spokane, Washington
City average home value: $399,715
State average home value: $606,227
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$206,512
15% down payment: $59,957
Loan amount: $339,758
Annual mortgage cost: $26,988
9. Buffalo, New York
City average home value: $249,310
State average home value: $505,848
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$256,538
15% down payment: $37,397
Loan amount: $211,914
Annual mortgage cost: $16,833
10. Jacksonville, Florida
City average home value: $296,995
State average home value: $397,000
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$100,005
15% down payment: $44,549
Loan amount: $252,446
Annual mortgage cost: $20,053
11. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City average home value: $239,655
State average home value: $290,734
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$51,079
15% down payment: $35,948
Loan amount: $203,707
Annual mortgage cost: $16,181
12. Norfolk, Virginia
City average home value: $314,732
State average home value: $422,347
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$107,615
15% down payment: $47,210
Loan amount: $267,522
Annual mortgage cost: $21,250
13. Rochester, New York
City average home value: $247,157
State average home value: $505,848
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$258,691
15% down payment: $37,074
Loan amount: $210,083
Annual mortgage cost: $16,688
14. Akron, Ohio
City average home value: $139,774
State average home value: $253,182
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$113,408
15% down payment: $20,966
Loan amount: $118,808
Annual mortgage cost: $9,437
15. Albany, New York
City average home value: $334,327
State average home value: $505,848
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$171,521
15% down payment: $50,149
Loan amount: $284,178
Annual mortgage cost: $22,573
16. Trenton, New Jersey
City average home value: $351,034
State average home value: $601,022
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$249,988
15% down payment: $52,655
Loan amount: $298,379
Annual mortgage cost: $23,701
17. Providence, Rhode Island
City average home value: $440,479
State average home value: $523,065
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$82,586
15% down payment: $66,072
Loan amount: $374,407
Annual mortgage cost: $29,741
18. Saint Paul, Minnesota
City average home value: $301,720
State average home value: $358,101
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$56,381
15% down payment: $45,258
Loan amount: $256,462
Annual mortgage cost: $20,372
19. Erie, Pennsylvania
City average home value: $205,662
State average home value: $290,734
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$85,072
15% down payment: $30,849
Loan amount: $174,813
Annual mortgage cost: $13,886
20. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
City average home value: $229,945
State average home value: $344,194
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$114,249
15% down payment: $34,492
Loan amount: $195,453
Annual mortgage cost: $15,526
21. Sacramento, California
City average home value: $482,360
State average home value: $789,119
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$306,759
15% down payment: $72,354
Loan amount: $410,006
Annual mortgage cost: $32,568
22. Richmond, Virginia
City average home value: $368,156
State average home value: $422,347
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$54,191
15% down payment: $55,223
Loan amount: $312,933
Annual mortgage cost: $24,857
23. Vancouver, Washington
City average home value: $509,277
State average home value: $606,227
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$96,950
15% down payment: $76,392
Loan amount: $432,885
Annual mortgage cost: $34,386
24. Pueblo, Colorado
City average home value: $283,092
State average home value: $546,468
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$263,376
15% down payment: $42,464
Loan amount: $240,628
Annual mortgage cost: $19,114
25. Schenectady, New York
City average home value: $334,129
State average home value: $505,848
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$171,719
15% down payment: $50,119
Loan amount: $284,010
Annual mortgage cost: $22,560
26. Lubbock, Texas
City average home value: $212,296
State average home value: $301,021
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$88,725
15% down payment: $31,844
Loan amount: $180,452
Annual mortgage cost: $14,334
27. Roseville, California
City average home value: $650,367
State average home value: $789,119
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$138,752
15% down payment: $97,555
Loan amount: $552,812
Annual mortgage cost: $43,912
28. Lansing, Michigan
City average home value: $166,849
State average home value: $263,947
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$97,098
15% down payment: $25,027
Loan amount: $141,822
Annual mortgage cost: $11,265
29. El Paso, Texas
City average home value: $239,433
State average home value: $301,021
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$61,588
15% down payment: $35,915
Loan amount: $203,518
Annual mortgage cost: $16,166
30. Greensboro, North Carolina
City average home value: $272,851
State average home value: $336,961
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$64,110
15% down payment: $40,928
Loan amount: $231,923
Annual mortgage cost: $18,423
31. Brownsville, Texas
City average home value: $201,698
State average home value: $301,021
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$99,323
15% down payment: $30,255
Loan amount: $171,443
Annual mortgage cost: $13,618
32. Macon, Georgia
City average home value: $173,741
State average home value: $333,778
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$160,037
15% down payment: $26,061
Loan amount: $147,680
Annual mortgage cost: $11,731
33. Tacoma, Washington
City average home value: $492,177
State average home value: $606,227
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$114,050
15% down payment: $73,827
Loan amount: $418,350
Annual mortgage cost: $33,231
34. San Antonio, Texas
City average home value: $249,206
State average home value: $301,021
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$51,815
15% down payment: $37,381
Loan amount: $211,825
Annual mortgage cost: $16,826
35. Corpus Christi, Texas
City average home value: $225,117
State average home value: $301,021
Difference in city vs. state home value: -$75,904
15% down payment: $33,768
Loan amount: $191,349
Annual mortgage cost: $15,200
Methodology: For this story, MoneyLion analyzed cities to find the best hidden-gem housing markets of 2026. First, MoneyLion used data from the Zillow Home Value Index to find cities (within the largest 250 markets) with an average single-family home value $50,000 below the statewide average single-family home value. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and all cities with a livability below 70 were removed, as they represent a lower quality of life. Assuming a 15% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from Freddie Mac, the average mortgage can be calculated for each city. The median household income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, the difference from a statewide single-family home value was scored and sourced at 2.00, and the livability index was scored and sourced at 2.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best hidden gem housing markets of 2025. All data was collected and is up to date as of Sept. 23, 2026.
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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