What You Need To Save To Buy a Home by Age 30 in Every State
You’ve probably heard the finance phrase “first million by 30.” But what about “first house by 30” — and what does it actually take to get there?
Homeownership has been elusive for many millennials and members of Gen Z. With inventory down and prices soaring in recent years, buying a home at all may seem difficult if not impossible. Landing one by 30, even more so.
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There is a financial path, however. A new MoneyLion analysis takes a state-by-state look at the average cost of a single-family home, the amounts needed for 20% and 10% down payments, the income needed to comfortably afford the mortgage, and how much savings are needed each month between ages 22 and 30. MoneyLion based its analysis on data from Zillow and Freddie Mac.
Not surprisingly, the figures vary widely from state to state.
Key Findings
Buying a home by 30 requires saving anywhere from under $200 to more than $2,000 per month, depending on the state and whether buyers aim for a 10% or 20% down payment.
To land a home by age 30 in high-priced Hawaii, you would have to save roughly $1,000 each month from age 22 to 30 if you’re eyeing a 10% down payment. That doubles to $2,000 a month for 20% down.
Which state requires the lowest amount of savings? West Virginia. The average single-family home in the mountain state is worth about $169,000. For a 20% down payment, that means coming up with $33,862 – or $353 a month, every month from age 22-30. A 10% down payment pencils out to $16,931 – or $176 a month over the same timeframe.
With average single-family home values approaching $1 million, Hawaii requires the largest down payments. Putting 10% down in the Aloha State means coming up with nearly $100,000, double that for 20%.
Even with a 20% down payment, 12 states require six-figure incomes to comfortably afford the mortgage.
Here’s a look at MoneyLion’s state-by-state breakdown.
Alabama
20% down payment: $45,948
Monthly mortgage: $1,147
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $49,166
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $479
10% down payment: $22,974
Monthly mortgage: $1,291
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $55,312
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $239
Alaska
20% down payment: $79,232
Monthly mortgage: $1,978
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $84,782
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $825
10% down payment: $39,616
Monthly mortgage: $2,226
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $95,380
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $413
Arizona
20% down payment: $85,995
Monthly mortgage: $2,147
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $92,020
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $896
10% down payment: $42,998
Monthly mortgage: $2,416
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $103,522
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $448
Arkansas
20% down payment: $43,813
Monthly mortgage: $1,094
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $46,882
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $456
10% down payment: $21,906
Monthly mortgage: $1,231
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $52,742
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $228
California
20% down payment: $157,781
Monthly mortgage: $3,939
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $168,834
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,644
10% down payment: $78,891
Monthly mortgage: $4,432
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $189,938
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $822
Colorado
20% down payment: $109,949
Monthly mortgage: $2,745
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $117,651
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,145
10% down payment: $54,974
Monthly mortgage: $3,088
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $132,357
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $573
Connecticut
20% down payment: $90,233
Monthly mortgage: $2,253
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $96,554
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $940
10% down payment: $45,116
Monthly mortgage: $2,535
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $108,623
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $470
Delaware
20% down payment: $79,316
Monthly mortgage: $1,980
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $84,873
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $826
10% down payment: $39,658
Monthly mortgage: $2,228
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $95,482
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $413
Florida
20% down payment: $78,685
Monthly mortgage: $1,965
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $84,197
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $820
10% down payment: $39,342
Monthly mortgage: $2,210
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $94,721
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $410
Georgia
20% down payment: $66,244
Monthly mortgage: $1,654
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $70,885
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $690
10% down payment: $33,122
Monthly mortgage: $1,861
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $79,745
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $345
Hawaii
20% down payment: $193,070
Monthly mortgage: $4,821
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $206,595
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $2,011
10% down payment: $96,535
Monthly mortgage: $5,423
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $232,420
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $1,006
Idaho
20% down payment: $93,482
Monthly mortgage: $2,334
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $100,030
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $974
10% down payment: $46,741
Monthly mortgage: $2,626
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $112,534
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $487
Illinois
20% down payment: $57,206
Monthly mortgage: $1,428
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $61,214
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $596
10% down payment: $28,603
Monthly mortgage: $1,607
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $68,865
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $298
Indiana
20% down payment: $50,074
Monthly mortgage: $1,250
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $53,582
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $522
10% down payment: $25,037
Monthly mortgage: $1,407
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $60,279
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $261
Iowa
20% down payment: $46,352
Monthly mortgage: $1,157
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $49,599
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $483
10% down payment: $23,176
Monthly mortgage: $1,302
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $55,799
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $241
Kansas
20% down payment: $47,908
Monthly mortgage: $1,196
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $51,264
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $499
10% down payment: $23,954
Monthly mortgage: $1,346
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $57,672
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $250
Kentucky
20% down payment: $45,807
Monthly mortgage: $1,144
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $49,016
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $477
10% down payment: $22,903
Monthly mortgage: $1,287
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $55,143
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $239
Louisiana
20% down payment: $41,902
Monthly mortgage: $1,046
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $44,837
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $436
10% down payment: $20,951
Monthly mortgage: $1,177
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $50,442
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $218
Maine
20% down payment: $78,466
Monthly mortgage: $1,959
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $83,962
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $817
10% down payment: $39,233
Monthly mortgage: $2,204
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $94,458
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $409
Maryland
20% down payment: $87,840
Monthly mortgage: $2,193
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $93,993
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $915
10% down payment: $43,920
Monthly mortgage: $2,467
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $105,743
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $458
Massachusetts
20% down payment: $132,922
Monthly mortgage: $3,319
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $142,233
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,385
10% down payment: $66,461
Monthly mortgage: $3,734
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $160,012
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $692
Michigan
20% down payment: $50,145
Monthly mortgage: $1,252
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $53,657
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $522
10% down payment: $25,072
Monthly mortgage: $1,409
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $60,364
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $261
Minnesota
20% down payment: $69,451
Monthly mortgage: $1,734
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $74,316
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $723
10% down payment: $34,725
Monthly mortgage: $1,951
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $83,605
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $362
Mississippi
20% down payment: $37,690
Monthly mortgage: $941
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $40,331
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $393
10% down payment: $18,845
Monthly mortgage: $1,059
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $45,372
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $196
Missouri
20% down payment: $52,059
Monthly mortgage: $1,300
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $55,706
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $542
10% down payment: $26,029
Monthly mortgage: $1,462
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $62,669
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $271
Montana
20% down payment: $91,322
Monthly mortgage: $2,280
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $97,719
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $951
10% down payment: $45,661
Monthly mortgage: $2,565
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $109,934
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $476
Nebraska
20% down payment: $54,364
Monthly mortgage: $1,357
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $58,172
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $566
10% down payment: $27,182
Monthly mortgage: $1,527
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $65,444
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $283
Nevada
20% down payment: $92,087
Monthly mortgage: $2,299
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $98,538
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $959
10% down payment: $46,044
Monthly mortgage: $2,587
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $110,856
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $480
New Hampshire
20% down payment: $102,757
Monthly mortgage: $2,566
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $109,955
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,070
10% down payment: $51,378
Monthly mortgage: $2,886
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $123,699
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $535
New Jersey
20% down payment: $115,339
Monthly mortgage: $2,880
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $123,419
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,201
10% down payment: $57,670
Monthly mortgage: $3,240
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $138,846
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $601
New Mexico
20% down payment: $62,275
Monthly mortgage: $1,555
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $66,638
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $649
10% down payment: $31,138
Monthly mortgage: $1,749
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $74,967
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $324
New York
20% down payment: $95,421
Monthly mortgage: $2,382
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $102,106
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $994
10% down payment: $47,711
Monthly mortgage: $2,680
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $114,869
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $497
North Carolina
20% down payment: $66,641
Monthly mortgage: $1,664
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $71,310
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $694
10% down payment: $33,321
Monthly mortgage: $1,872
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $80,223
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $347
North Dakota
20% down payment: $56,881
Monthly mortgage: $1,420
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $60,866
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $593
10% down payment: $28,441
Monthly mortgage: $1,598
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $68,474
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $296
Ohio
20% down payment: $48,044
Monthly mortgage: $1,200
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $51,410
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $500
10% down payment: $24,022
Monthly mortgage: $1,350
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $57,836
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $250
Oklahoma
20% down payment: $43,418
Monthly mortgage: $1,084
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $46,459
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $452
10% down payment: $21,709
Monthly mortgage: $1,220
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $52,266
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $226
Oregon
20% down payment: $100,100
Monthly mortgage: $2,499
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $107,112
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,043
10% down payment: $50,050
Monthly mortgage: $2,812
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $120,501
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $521
Pennsylvania
20% down payment: $55,631
Monthly mortgage: $1,389
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $59,528
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $579
10% down payment: $49,896
Monthly mortgage: $1,563
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $66,969
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $290
Rhode Island
20% down payment: $99,791
Monthly mortgage: $2,492
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $106,782
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,039
10% down payment: $30,251
Monthly mortgage: $2,803
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $120,129
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $520
South Carolina
20% down payment: $60,501
Monthly mortgage: $1,511
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $64,739
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $630
10% down payment: $31,244
Monthly mortgage: $1,699
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $72,832
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $315
South Dakota
20% down payment: $62,487
Monthly mortgage: $1,560
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $66,865
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $651
10% down payment: $32,795
Monthly mortgage: $1,755
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $75,223
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $325
Tennessee
20% down payment: $65,590
Monthly mortgage: $1,638
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $70,184
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $683
10% down payment: $29,918
Monthly mortgage: $1,842
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $78,958
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $342
Texas
20% down payment: $59,836
Monthly mortgage: $1,494
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $64,027
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $623
10% down payment: $54,325
Monthly mortgage: $1,681
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $120,501
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $312
Utah
20% down payment: $108,651
Monthly mortgage: $2,713
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $116,262
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,132
10% down payment: $38,288
Monthly mortgage: $3,052
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $66,969
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $566
Vermont
20% down payment: $76,575
Monthly mortgage: $1,912
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $81,939
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $798
10% down payment: $41,207
Monthly mortgage: $1,563
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $120,129
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $399
Virginia
20% down payment: $82,413
Monthly mortgage: $2,058
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $88,187
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $858
10% down payment: $60,742
Monthly mortgage: $2,803
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $72,832
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $429
Washington
20% down payment: $121,485
Monthly mortgage: $3,033
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $129,995
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $1,265
10% down payment: $16,931
Monthly mortgage: $1,699
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $75,223
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $633
West Virginia
20% down payment: $33,862
Monthly mortgage: $845
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $36,234
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $353
10% down payment: $32,520
Monthly mortgage: $1,755
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $40,763
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $176
Wisconsin
20% down payment: $65,041
Monthly mortgage: $1,624
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $69,597
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $678
10% down payment: $35,388
Monthly mortgage: $1,842
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $78,296
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $339
Wyoming
20% down payment: $70,776
Monthly mortgage: $1,767
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $75,734
Monthly savings needed to afford 20% down by 30: $737
10% down payment: $35,388
Monthly mortgage: $1,681
Income needed to comfortably afford mortgage: $85,200
Monthly savings needed to afford 10% down by 30: $369
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion looked at home values by state using Zillow’s February 2026 data to determine what it would take to buy a home by the age of 30 in every state. To determine this, MoneyLion assumed a person/household would have a down payment of either 20%, 15%, 10% or 6% towards their home. With these down payment figures calculated, MoneyLion then determined how much one would have to save both yearly (8 years) and monthly (96 months), assuming one was working full-time from the age of 22 onward. MoneyLion also calculated monthly and annual mortgage payments assuming a 30-year fixed rate at 6.38% interest, as sourced from Freddie Mac on March 26, 2026, with no property tax, HOA, or PMI included in mortgage calculations. With the mortgage payments determined, MoneyLion was also able to provide the minimum incomes needed to comfortably afford mortgage payments, following the rule that no more than 28% of pre-tax income should go towards your mortgage. All data was collected and is up to date as of March 30, 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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