7 Cities Where Solo Earners Can Realistically Own a Home
If you feel like homeownership is more of a dream than the American dream these days, take heart. There are still places where a regular person can buy a house anyone would want to live in.
Home prices have surged nearly 55% from the onset of the pandemic according to the NAHB. In many cities, homeownership is all but out of reach for most single-income households.
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But not everywhere. So where can solo buyers and families on a single income still afford to buy a house?
1. Pittsburgh
Steel City still offers a steal on home prices, compared to overpriced coastal metropolises. Zillow puts the average home price at just $240,538, fully 35% lower than the national average of $368,198.
Meanwhile, the median income is $65,742, per the Census Bureau, which translates to a home price to income ratio of 3.7. That’s significantly better than the national average of 4.4.
“Pittsburgh is one of only two of the 50 largest metros where homeowner households pay less than 30% of pretax income for housing (27.4%),” said real estate expert Sain Rhodes with Clever Offers. “It also offers great universities, restaurants and arts venues, walkable neighborhoods and a young homeowner population with the highest share of millennial homeowners in the country at 23.5%.”
2. Cleveland
Like Pittsburgh, Cleveland is a major city with a full suite of amenities -- from major-league sports teams to abundant museums, restaurants, nightlife and more.
Yet home prices average just $117,703, ranking it among the most affordable cities of its size in the country.
While the median income comes in lower at $40,801, that still puts the property to income ratio at an accessible 2.9.
3. Detroit
What’s the most affordable major city in the country?
Detroit homes cost an average of just $76,488, while residents earn a median income of $39,938. Home prices cost less than double the median income (1.9), which is unheard of anywhere else in the country.
Michigan Realtor Ryann Brier of City Lights Home Buyers points to other perks for solo homebuyers in Motor City.
“Detroit has a down payment assistance program offering up to $25,000," she said, "helping single-income buyers find a home in Corktown, midtown or downtown with a vibrant city life. It also has a very high population of singles compared to other major U.S. metros, at 76% of its population being unmarried.”
4. San Antonio
Despite Midwestern domination for affordable housing, San Antonio’s builder-friendly policies have spurred plenty of new housing supply and kept prices low at $251,035.
Incomes average $65,056 in San Antonio, for a home-price-to-income ratio of 3.9.
“Low housing costs, a strong healthcare and military employment base and a downtown that has genuinely improved all make San Antonio a great option for single-income households,” said Andrew Gardner of Leap Properties.
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5. Indianapolis
Indianapolis has also come a long way over the last 20 years, quietly becoming a cosmopolitan city. Yet home prices remain low at $232,133 and incomes average $66,219, for a ratio of just 3.5.
Jessica Hegge, cofounder of Dr. Home Finance, likes Indiana.
“It’s a robust economy," she said, "with good opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing and financial services but housing costs that remain low even for single-income households.”
6. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, too, has gentrified over the last few decades, booming with diverse dining and nightlife, sports, arts and culture.
Home prices have yet to catch up however, averaging $253,319. With a median income of $69,166, that puts the ratio of home prices to incomes at a healthy 3.7.
7. Des Moines, Iowa
Prefer a smaller city with a similar profile? Property prices average $210,703 in Des Moines, while incomes average $65,932. That makes for an impressively low ratio of 3.2.
“Des Moines is underrated across America, but it’s a perfect city for single income households,” said Jonathan Ayala, real estate agent and founder at Real Estate Photography. “This city has a strong economy with low unemployment and housing is still affordable.”
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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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