The median household income in the U.S. — $77,719 — is no longer enough to afford a median-priced home. The median home price nationwide is now $438,000, which means you would need a household income of $123,226 to afford to buy a home if you make a 20% down payment.
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While there are some major cities where you can afford a typical home earning less than six figures, that has become the exception and not the rule, according to a new Clever Real Estate study. The study found the income needed to afford a home with a 20% down payment in the 50 largest cities, and it turns out you need a household income of at least $100,000 to afford it in 33 of them.
Here’s a look at the major cities where you need a six-figure household income to afford a typical home, ranked by affordability based on the local median income.
Also see cities where home values have increased the most.
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Median household income: $94,289
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $395,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $111,649
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $17,360
Find Out: 50 Cheapest Places To Retire Across America
Also See: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
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Median household income: $95,102
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $117,547
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,445
Explore More: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years
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Median household income: $84,332
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $106,909
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,577
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Median household income: $77,006
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $347,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $100,075
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,069
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Median household income: $86,505
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $109,760
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,255
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Median household income: $96,096
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $441,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $120,069
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,973
Discover More: 25 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families
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Median household income: $81,262
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $409,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $107,912
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $26,650
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Median household income: $87,071
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $118,197
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $31,126
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Median household income: $79,463
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $340,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $115,194
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $35,731
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Median household income: $75,065
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $449,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $113,839
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,774
Read More: What Salary Single People Need To Live Comfortably in 100 Major US Cities
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Median household income: $77,044
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $115,831
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,787
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Median household income: $85,700
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $458,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $125,174
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $39,474
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Median household income: $121,469
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $161,911
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,442
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Median household income: $98,508
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $450,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $139,062
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,554
Find More: The Cheapest Place To Buy a Home in Every State
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Median household income: $71,140
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $418,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $112,172
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $41,032
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Median household income: $84,685
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $470,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $126,705
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,020
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Median household income: $94,409
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $530,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $136,876
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,467
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Median household income: $72,743
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $116,256
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $43,513
See More: 5 Types of Homes Expected To Plummet in Value by the End of 2025
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Median household income: $77,378
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $408,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $128,233
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $50,855
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Median household income: $86,860
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $425,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $138,791
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $51,931
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Median household income: $94,925
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $559,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $147,663
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $52,738
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Median household income: $83,330
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $485,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $142,700
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $59,370
Also Know: 7 Housing Markets Where Home Values Could Plummet
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Median household income: $94,992
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $159,312
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $64,320
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Median household income: $103,055
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $168,958
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $65,903
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Median household income: $87,843
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $596,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $160,783
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $72,940
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Median household income: $110,697
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $750,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $215,387
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $104,690
Discover More: 20 Best Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K
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Median household income: $76,271
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $188,008
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $111,737
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Median household income: $110,744
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $850,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $230,379
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $119,635
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Median household income: $95,220
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $765,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $233,455
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $138,235
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Median household income: $103,674
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $920,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $246,134
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $142,460
Also See: 5 Affordable Small Cities To Live In on the West Coast
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Median household income: $91,960
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $905,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $241,149
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $149,189
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Median household income: $127,792
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,550,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $415,871
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $288,079
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Median household income: $153,202
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Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,700,000
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Income needed with 20% down: $458,297
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Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $305,095
Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Clever Real Estate and is accurate as of May 19, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 33 Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home