Oct 17, 2026

41 Midwest Cities Where Homes Cost Less Than $250K

Looking to buy a home for less than $250,000? Head to the Midwest. This U.S. region boasts 41 cities, according to an in-house study, where home values are well below this amount for budget buyers.

The Moneylion study drew from our existing research for this article and considered additional factors, like the average monthly mortgage and each city’s livability score, as well as the violent and property crime rates.

Explore More: 4 Best East Coast Cities With Home Values Under $250K

Don't Wait: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking

See which Midwestern cities are among the best for buying homes under $250,000, in order of most expensive home values.

41. Cincinnati

Median household income: $56,910
Average home value: $248,164
Average monthly mortgage: $1,362
Livability: 80
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 7.28
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 42.78

40. Kansas City, Missouri

Median household income: $69,958
Average home value: $244,236
Average monthly mortgage: $1,341
Livability: 78
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.76
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 50.02

39. Dearborn, Michigan

Median household income: $59,786
Average home value: $239,883
Average monthly mortgage: $1,317
Livability: 79
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.18
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 21.86

38. Springfield, Missouri

Median household income: $54,414
Average home value: $237,319
Average monthly mortgage: $1,303
Livability: 74
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.72
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 41.21

37. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Median household income: $61,436
Average home value: $235,170
Average monthly mortgage: $1,291
Livability: 84
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.71
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 23.50

36. Champaign, Illinois

Median household income: $58,903
Average home value: $234,165
Average monthly mortgage: $1,285
Livability: 83
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 4.27
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.14

35. Waukegan, Illinois

Median household income: $66,302
Average home value: $231,299
Average monthly mortgage: $1,270
Livability: 73
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.64
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 10.99

34. Indianapolis

Median household income: $66,900
Average home value: $230,309
Average monthly mortgage: $1,264
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 10.50
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.06

33. Kalamazoo, Michigan

Median household income: $59,226
Average home value: $227,415
Average monthly mortgage: $1,248
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.72
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 42.94

32. Milwaukee

Median household income: $56,792
Average home value: $215,459
Average monthly mortgage: $1,183
Livability: 79
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.61
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.93

31. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Median household income: $69,917
Average home value: $211,472
Average monthly mortgage: $1,161
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.99
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 28.81

30. Westland, Michigan

Median household income: $61,390
Average home value: $209,113
Average monthly mortgage: $1,148
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.35
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.58

29. Parma, Ohio

Median household income: $73,861
Average home value: $208,205
Average monthly mortgage: $1,143
Livability: 81
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.25
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.57

28. Des Moines, Iowa

Median household income: $67,297
Average home value: $204,792
Average monthly mortgage: $1,124
Livability: 83
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 7.04
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 33.38

27. Racine, Wisconsin

Median household income: $55,458
Average home value: $203,149
Average monthly mortgage: $1,115
Livability: 79
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.33
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.57

26. Independence, Missouri

Median household income: $58,535
Average home value: $202,770
Average monthly mortgage: $1,113
Livability: 82
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.00
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 13.26

25. Warren, Michigan

Median household income: $56,281
Average home value: $201,137
Average monthly mortgage: $1,104
Livability: 74
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.69
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.48

24. Wichita, Kansas

Median household income: $65,855
Average home value: $197,336
Average monthly mortgage: $1,083
Livability: 68
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.30
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 47.23

23. Kansas City, Kansas

Median household income: $63,917
Average home value: $194,318
Average monthly mortgage: $1,067
Livability: 75
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 4.84
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 23.64

22. Evansville, Indiana

Median household income: $52,094
Average home value: $192,287
Average monthly mortgage: $1,055
Livability: 66
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.29
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.33

21. Sioux City, Iowa

Median household income: $74,972
Average home value: $191,226
Average monthly mortgage: $1,050
Livability: 79
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.69
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 35.38

20. Topeka, Kansas

Median household income: $61,030
Average home value: $191,211
Average monthly mortgage: $1,050
Livability: 69
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.68
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 41.20

19. Davenport, Iowa

Median household income: $64,686
Average home value: $187,043
Average monthly mortgage: $1,027
Livability: 77
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.88
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 37.94

18. South Bend, Indiana

Median household income: $53,006
Average home value: $179,697
Average monthly mortgage: $986
Livability: 68
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 26.45

17. St. Louis

Median household income: $53,374
Average home value: $178,888
Average monthly mortgage: $982
Livability: 74
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.37
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 63.62

16. St. Joseph, Missouri

Median household income: $57,010
Average home value: $173,446
Average monthly mortgage: $952
Livability: 59
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 7.45
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 37.26

15. Hammond, Indiana

Median household income: $58,647
Average home value: $171,492
Average monthly mortgage: $941
Livability: 70
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.60
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 33.69

14. Rockford, Illinois

Median household income: $52,564
Average home value: $168,435
Average monthly mortgage: $925
Livability: 61
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.62
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.14

13. Canton, Ohio

Median household income: $46,320
Average home value: $161,733
Average monthly mortgage: $888
Livability: 70
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 10.04
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 42.52

12. Springfield, Illinois

Median household income: $72,889
Average home value: $161,681
Average monthly mortgage: $887
Livability: 81
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.01
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 47.63

11. Lansing, Michigan

Median household income: $55,366
Average home value: $156,994
Average monthly mortgage: $862
Livability: 79
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.17
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 28.56

10. Waterloo, Iowa

Median household income: $61,737
Average home value: $151,752
Average monthly mortgage: $833
Livability: 80
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.72
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 20.78

Top Bank Accounts Worth Opening in 2026

Unlock Better Banking

9. Akron, Ohio

Median household income: $48,521
Average home value: $133,130
Average monthly mortgage: $731
Livability: 81
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 7.83
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 30.15

8. Dayton, Ohio

Median household income: $45,846
Average home value: $131,175
Average monthly mortgage: $720
Livability: 65
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.02
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 46.96

7. Peoria, Illinois

Median household income: $65,078
Average home value: $126,626
Average monthly mortgage: $695
Livability: 73
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.09
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 38.38

6. Toledo, Ohio

Median household income: $50,562
Average home value: $125,012
Average monthly mortgage: $686
Livability: 66
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.42
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 30.18

5. Cleveland

Median household income: $43,383
Average home value: $110,507
Average monthly mortgage: $607
Livability: 72
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.82
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 47.53

4. Decatur, Illinois

Median household income: $49,244
Average home value: $99,239
Average monthly mortgage: $545
Livability: 58
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.82
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 25.72

3. Gary, Indiana

Median household income: $40,752
Average home value: $84,936
Average monthly mortgage: $466
Livability: 72
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.96
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 28.20

2. Detroit

Median household income: $39,209
Average home value: $74,530
Average monthly mortgage: $409
Livability: 73
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 20.07
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 46.27

1. Flint, Michigan

Median household income: $41,410
Average home value: $61,160
Average monthly mortgage: $336
Livability: 74
Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.71
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.00

Methodology: MoneyLion found the 100 most populous cities with home values under $250,000, as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each city. The cost-of-living indices were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey was used to calculate the average expenditure cost for each city. The violent crime rate per 1,000 and property crime rate per 1,000 were sourced from NeighborhoodScout. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included to determine the quality of life in each location. Median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 1-year American Community Survey 2024. Using the average expenditure cost and mortgage cost, the total cost of living was calculated for each city. The median household income, livability, cost of living, crime rates, unemployment rate and percent of the population below the poverty line were all scored. All the scores were weighted at 1.00, summed and sorted to show the best places to buy a home for under $250,000.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

More From MoneyLion:

Written by

Heather Taylor

Edited by

Cory Dudak