- Home prices have surged, raising required income for homeownership by 49.5% since 2020: Bankrate
- Two-thirds of states saw an increase in needed income of over 50%; Utah leads with an 89% rise.
- But some states, like Ohio, Alabama, and Missouri, are still more affordable.
Buying a home has gotten a lot more difficult since the pandemic.
With home prices surging around the country since 2020, the average household income needed to purchase a home at the median national price has risen by 49.5%, according to a new report from Bankrate.
About two-thirds of states have seen a surge in required income more than 50%. Utah comes in on top with an 89% increase in the last five years, the report said.
But on an absolute basis, some required household incomes to buy the average home are still fairly reasonable, well below the US average of $116,986 — which buys a $418,489 home.
Still, given the nationwide rise in the required income to buy a home, the report listed a few tips for breaking into the market, like improving your credit score to secure a lower mortgage rate; finding out about down-payment assistance programs; looking at cheaper options like condos; and simply waiting until you're in a better financial position.
Below are the 10 states with the lowest household incomes needed to buy the state's median-priced home, ranked in descending order, according to the Bankrate study. The increase in income required since 2020 is also included, as is the median home price and its monthly mortgage payment.
10. Alabama
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $77,262
5-year increase in salary needed: 49.4%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,471
Median home price, January 2025: $278,600
9. Louisiana
Sean Pavone/Louisiana
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $76,145
5-year increase in salary needed: 26.0%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,328
Median home price, January 2025: $251,500
8. Missouri
joe daniel price/Getty Images
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $74,263
5-year increase in salary needed: 45.9%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,356
Median home price, January 2025: $256,900
7. Michigan
Downtown Detroit.
Kirby Lee/Getty Images
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $74,228
5-year increase in salary needed: 43.8%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,319
Median home price, January 2025: $249,800
6. Arkansas
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $73,330
5-year increase in salary needed: 57.2%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,351
Median home price, January 2025: $255,900
5. Indiana
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $72,342
5-year increase in salary needed: 65.3%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,363
Median home price, January 2025: $258,100
4. Mississippi
The Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.
Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $72,072
5-year increase in salary needed: 48.5%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,304
Median home price, January 2025: $246,900
3. Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Laura Mckenzie Waters/Getty Images
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $71,080
5-year increase in salary needed: 51.9%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,257
Median home price, January 2025: $238,000
2. Iowa
Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $70,437
5-year increase in salary needed: 42.8%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,211
Median home price, January 2025: $229,400
1. West Virginia
The average life expectancy in West Virginia is 71.0 years.
Firepphotography1/Shutterstock
Salary needed to buy median-priced house, January 2025: $64,179
5-year increase in salary needed: 54.3%
Monthly mortgage payment, January 2025: $1,335
Median home price, January 2025: $252,900
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