Least expensive metros to buy a home in July
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Least expensive metros to buy a home in July
Downtown skyline
The U.S. housing market frenzy that sparked an unexpected demand for homes during the height of COVID-19 pandemic now appears to be cooling off. While the housing boom has been beneficial for many U.S. homeowners—with 62% seeing major equity increases since the beginning of 2021—some Americans feel they may never be able to afford being a homeowner.
The median list price of a home in the U.S. was $449,000 in July 2022. The month prior saw an average of $450,000, when prices reached an all-time high. The data accounts for all houses, including single-family homes, condos, and town houses.
For potential homeowners, the good news is there are plenty of areas that are still affordable to buy a home, particularly in the Midwest and Rust Belt states. These homes are in metros that include the central city as well as the surrounding towns and suburbs.
Stacker examined listings data on Realtor.com to find the least expensive places to buy a home in July 2022, the latest data available. Analysis was limited to the 300 largest metropolitan areas. In the event of a tie, the year-over-year price change was used to determine rankings.
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Stacker
The Rust Belt leads in the least expensive metros
Homes that listed below the national median price tend to be in the Midwestern U.S.
The Rust Belt states—which include Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia—were once places with thriving communities where many residents worked in manufacturing. In the 1970s, more people began to pursue higher education for higher paying jobs, as outsourcing and automation reduced the manufacturing positions, causing a decline in employment among Rust Belt cities.
Fast forward to today. With more affordable housing in these Midwest states and more businesses looking to settle in these areas, some Rust Belt cities are seeing a small revival. The population of Rust Belt cities hasn’t seen a huge increase, but this may soon change as Americans seek affordable homeownership.
Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock
#10. Toledo, Ohio
Hensville Park in Toledo, Ohio aerial photo
– Median listing price: $169,900
— Change from a year ago: -4.5%
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
#9. Springfield, Illinois
Drone view of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield
– Median listing price: $169,000
— Change from a year ago: 35.3%
Eddie J. Rodriquez // Shutterstock
#8. Ottawa, Illinois
Beautiful afternoon in Downtown Ottawa, Illinois
– Median listing price: $167,500
— Change from a year ago: 18.0%
aceshot1 // Shutterstock
#7. Wheeling, West Virginia
Row of colorful homes in Wheeling
– Median listing price: $159,900
— Change from a year ago: 7.0%
Joshua Benjamin Francis // Shutterstock
#6. Peoria, Illinois
Peoria aerial in autumn
– Median listing price: $159,000
— Change from a year ago: 32.6%
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#5. Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia downtown skyline on the river at dusk
– Median listing price: $154,000
— Change from a year ago: 5.5%
Mark B. Flinn // Shutterstock
#4. Terre Haute, Indiana
Front porch of white house with potted plants
– Median listing price: $145,000
— Change from a year ago: 19.3%
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#3. Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio, USA downtown road and townscape at twilight
– Median listing price: $145,000
— Change from a year ago: 4.9%
Bennekom // Shutterstock
#2. Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Downtown street of Pottsville, Pennsylvania
– Median listing price: $130,000
— Change from a year ago: 15.6%
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock
#1. Johnstown, Pennsylvania
A view of Johnstown, PA from atop the Inclined Plane
– Median listing price: $105,000
— Change from a year ago: -3.4%
