10 States Where Middle-Income Earners Can Still Afford To Buy a Home
Not too long ago, homeowership was well within reach of most middle-class Americans. But soaring home prices in recent years have pushed many out of the housing market.
According to Federal Reserve data, Americans paid a median price of $403,200 to buy a home during the first quarter of 2026. That’s well down from a record high of $442,600 in 2022, but still a lot higher than the median of $329,000 at the start of the decade.
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Meanwhile, the median household income across the United States is $80,734 per year, according to the latest Census Bureau figures. In some parts of the country, that will put you solidly in the middle-income bracket — or even slightly above it. But in the most expensive areas, it will leave you well short of being a middle-income earner.
So, where is homeownership still within reach for the middle class? Here’s a look at the 10 most affordable states for housing, according to a recent analysis from Coastal Moving Services.
1. West Virginia
Median Home Price: $253,300
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.0
Median Household Income: $59,608
2. Mississippi
Median Home Price: $265,200
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.0
Median Household Income: $56,447
3. Louisiana
Median Home Price: $260,300
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.9
Median Household Income: $60,756
4. Arkansas
Median Home Price: $270,300
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.1
Median Household Income: $60,773
5. Oklahoma
Median Home Price: $256,700
Cost-of-Living Index: 84.7
Median Household Income: $65,039
6. Kentucky
Median Home Price: $277,200
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.5
Median Household Income: $63,726
7. Iowa
Median Home Price: $250,700
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.8
Median Household Income: $75,059
8. Alabama
Median Home Price: $299,000
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.1
Median Household Income: $63,999
9. Kansas
Median Home Price: $302,300
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.4
Median Household Income: $74,275
10. Ohio
Median Home Price: $262,900
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.6
Median Household Income: $71,389
Editor's note: The median home prices listed come from Forbes. Cost-of-living index figures are from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center and are based on an average of 100, with indexes below 100 reflecting lower-than-average living costs. Median household income figures come from the Census Bureau. Comments are from Coastal Moving Services.
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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