Homeownership remains more accessible in these cities, where median home values sit well below the national average. Many are in the Midwest and South, where land is plentiful and demand is more moderate. For first-time buyers or investors looking for entry points, these markets deserve a closer look.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Median Income | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flint, MI | $47,600 | $859 | $36,194 | 28.5% | 80,835 |
| 2 | Saginaw, MI | $54,000 | $909 | $37,298 | 29.2% | 43,879 |
| 3 | Youngstown, OH | $58,400 | $718 | $34,746 | 24.8% | 59,605 |
| 4 | Inkster, MI | $75,700 | $1,127 | $39,632 | 34.1% | 25,602 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $76,800 | $1,034 | $39,575 | 31.4% | 636,644 |
| 6 | Danville, IL | $76,800 | $809 | $44,239 | 21.9% | 28,663 |
| 7 | Jamestown, NY | $79,100 | $755 | $44,878 | 20.2% | 28,401 |
| 8 | Warren, OH | $80,100 | $759 | $36,955 | 24.6% | 39,057 |
| 9 | Marion, IN | $83,200 | $760 | $43,349 | 21% | 27,384 |
| 10 | Gary, IN | $85,300 | $975 | $37,380 | 31.3% | 68,604 |
| 11 | Chester, PA | $85,400 | $1,080 | $39,809 | 32.6% | 33,209 |
| 12 | Pine Bluff, AR | $86,400 | $831 | $41,250 | 24.2% | 40,436 |
| 13 | Elmira, NY | $88,200 | $871 | $43,089 | 24.3% | 26,349 |
| 14 | Galesburg, IL | $89,800 | $719 | $45,213 | 19.1% | 29,653 |
| 15 | Bay City, MI | $89,900 | $739 | $47,904 | 18.5% | 32,445 |
| 16 | Muncie, IN | $92,000 | $867 | $43,395 | 24% | 64,739 |
| 17 | East Chicago, IN | $92,400 | $820 | $41,071 | 24% | 26,158 |
| 18 | Ottumwa, IA | $92,400 | $956 | $56,994 | 20.1% | 25,352 |
| 19 | Dayton, OH | $93,200 | $866 | $43,454 | 23.9% | 136,741 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $94,100 | $894 | $39,187 | 27.4% | 367,523 |
| 21 | Canton, OH | $94,400 | $826 | $39,754 | 24.9% | 70,105 |
| 22 | Jackson, MI | $94,700 | $874 | $42,848 | 24.5% | 31,206 |
| 23 | Lima, OH | $95,900 | $865 | $43,370 | 23.9% | 35,304 |
| 24 | Port Arthur, TX | $96,900 | $996 | $45,752 | 26.1% | 55,779 |
| 25 | Decatur, IL | $97,300 | $796 | $50,809 | 18.8% | 70,368 |
| 26 | Alton, IL | $99,500 | $948 | $53,005 | 21.5% | 25,430 |
| 27 | Granite City, IL | $99,800 | $761 | $60,490 | 15.1% | 26,670 |
| 28 | Garfield Heights, OH | $100,000 | $1,085 | $52,006 | 25% | 29,369 |
| 29 | Camden, NJ | $100,400 | $1,157 | $40,450 | 34.3% | 71,471 |
| 30 | Meridian, MS | $100,800 | $865 | $34,657 | 30% | 34,466 |
| 31 | Greenville, MS | $100,800 | $824 | $36,297 | 27.2% | 28,833 |
| 32 | Gadsden, AL | $101,900 | $787 | $38,699 | 24.4% | 33,617 |
| 33 | York, PA | $103,100 | $958 | $47,115 | 24.4% | 44,830 |
| 34 | Anderson, IN | $104,300 | $909 | $47,221 | 23.1% | 54,930 |
| 35 | Niagara Falls, NY | $104,400 | $784 | $48,535 | 19.4% | 48,198 |
| 36 | Marion, OH | $105,900 | $848 | $45,829 | 22.2% | 35,771 |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | $107,000 | $880 | $47,532 | 22.2% | 268,461 |
| 38 | Springfield, OH | $107,600 | $805 | $45,883 | 21.1% | 58,410 |
| 39 | Richmond, IN | $107,600 | $815 | $46,395 | 21.1% | 35,551 |
| 40 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | $108,000 | $939 | $47,970 | 23.5% | 44,217 |
| 41 | Jackson, MS | $108,200 | $1,018 | $43,238 | 28.3% | 149,827 |
| 42 | Erie, PA | $108,200 | $836 | $43,397 | 23.1% | 94,156 |
| 43 | Terre Haute, IN | $109,500 | $877 | $41,960 | 25.1% | 58,491 |
| 44 | Reading, PA | $109,800 | $1,018 | $45,599 | 26.8% | 94,836 |
| 45 | Danville, VA | $110,200 | $808 | $42,778 | 22.7% | 42,239 |
| 46 | Pontiac, MI | $110,600 | $1,007 | $42,791 | 28.2% | 61,914 |
| 47 | Mansfield, OH | $110,600 | $768 | $42,605 | 21.6% | 47,686 |
| 48 | Akron, OH | $111,200 | $930 | $48,544 | 23% | 189,526 |
| 49 | Pharr, TX | $111,500 | $990 | $49,884 | 23.8% | 79,809 |
| 50 | Altoona, PA | $113,600 | $789 | $50,171 | 18.9% | 43,508 |
Key Takeaways
- Flint, MI ranks #1 with median home value of $47,600.
- The top 5 cities are: Flint, MI; Saginaw, MI; Youngstown, OH; Inkster, MI; Detroit, MI.
- The gap between #1 ($47,600) and #50 ($113,600) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
- Median household income in the top-ranked city is $36,194, with a population of 80,835.
Methodology
Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All cities with valid data and populations above 25,000 are included. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.