America's Most Affordable States
Discover which states offer the best value for homebuyers across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia
State-by-State Affordability Comparison
Our state rankings aggregate home affordability data across all cities and towns within each state, providing a comprehensive view of housing costs relative to income at the state level. These rankings help identify which states consistently offer better value for homebuyers and where housing costs may be stretching household budgets.
Each state's affordability ratio represents the median home value divided by median household income. Lower ratios indicate more affordable states where homes cost less relative to what residents earn. A ratio below 4.0 is considered very affordable, while ratios above 6.0 suggest significant affordability challenges.
Note: State-level rankings provide a high-level overview, but affordability varies significantly within states. For detailed local insights, explore individual city rankings or use our search tool.
Complete State Rankings
✓ Most Affordable States
Lower ratios = better value
| Rank | State | Ratio | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Dakota | 2.9 | $232,298 |
| #2 | West Virginia | 2.7 | $135,169 |
| #3 | Oklahoma | 3.1 | $162,194 |
| #4 | Louisiana | 3.3 | $166,159 |
| #5 | Mississippi | 3.3 | $145,530 |
| #6 | Kansas | 2.7 | $161,708 |
| #7 | Iowa | 3.0 | $190,536 |
| #8 | Arkansas | 3.6 | $178,259 |
| #9 | Illinois | 2.7 | $178,488 |
| #10 | Indiana | 3.7 | $222,999 |
| #11 | Ohio | 3.4 | $224,302 |
| #12 | Alabama | 3.5 | $187,995 |
| #13 | Kentucky | 3.7 | $185,688 |
| #14 | Pennsylvania | 3.5 | $225,305 |
| #15 | Alaska | 4.0 | $327,535 |
| #16 | Missouri | 3.9 | $224,061 |
| #17 | Minnesota | 3.9 | $282,244 |
| #18 | Nebraska | 3.3 | $216,823 |
| #19 | Wyoming | 4.3 | $309,949 |
| #20 | Maryland | 4.2 | $409,561 |
| #21 | Texas | 3.8 | $250,468 |
| #22 | South Carolina | 4.2 | $210,666 |
| #23 | Michigan | 3.9 | $228,670 |
| #24 | New York | 4.5 | $328,762 |
| #25 | Virginia | 4.4 | $296,431 |
| #26 | Georgia | 4.3 | $239,856 |
! Least Affordable States
Higher ratios = lower affordability
| Rank | State | Ratio | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| #27 | Tennessee | 4.7 | $251,608 |
| #28 | South Dakota | 4.2 | $288,642 |
| #29 | North Carolina | 4.5 | $265,169 |
| #30 | Wisconsin | 4.2 | $288,266 |
| #31 | New Mexico | 5.0 | $236,699 |
| #32 | Arizona | 5.1 | $357,214 |
| #33 | Delaware | 5.0 | $364,234 |
| #34 | District of Columbia | 5.4 | $572,823 |
| #35 | Florida | 5.2 | $348,519 |
| #36 | Nevada | 5.6 | $380,621 |
| #37 | Utah | 5.4 | $506,970 |
| #38 | Colorado | 5.8 | $481,119 |
| #39 | Vermont | 4.9 | $314,805 |
| #40 | Washington | 6.2 | $460,216 |
| #41 | Massachusetts | 6.2 | $598,923 |
| #42 | Connecticut | 4.7 | $397,159 |
| #43 | California | 7.1 | $615,427 |
| #44 | Maine | 5.0 | $292,623 |
| #45 | Oregon | 6.1 | $439,850 |
| #46 | New Jersey | 5.2 | $559,994 |
| #47 | Rhode Island | 5.9 | $419,219 |
| #48 | Montana | 6.1 | $378,726 |
| #49 | Idaho | 6.5 | $399,077 |
| #50 | New Hampshire | 5.6 | $436,198 |
| #51 | Hawaii | 9.2 | $830,380 |
How State Rankings Are Calculated
State rankings are based on aggregated data from cities and towns within each state. The affordability ratio represents median home value divided by median household income at the state level.
- Very Affordable: Ratio below 4.0 (homes cost less than 4× annual income)
- Moderate: Ratio between 4.0-6.0
- Expensive: Ratio above 6.0 (homes cost more than 6× annual income)
For more granular insights, explore city-level rankings or individual state pages. See our methodology page for complete details on data sources and calculations.