The dream of homeownership remains alive in America — but only in certain counties. While the national median home value has climbed to $281,900, many counties still offer homes at prices that median-income families can realistically afford.
We calculated the income-to-home-value ratio for every US county and ranked the 25 best for home affordability. The traditional rule of thumb is that a home should cost no more than 3x annual income. Every county on this list meets or beats that benchmark.
The 25 Best Counties for Home Affordability
Ranked by income-to-home-value ratio (higher is better).
| Rank | County | State | Median Income | Median Home Value | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stonewall County | Texas | $56,875 | $48,600 | 1.17x |
| 2 | Stanton County | Kansas | $71,700 | $67,800 | 1.06x |
| 3 | Cottle County | Texas | $59,063 | $59,300 | 1.00x |
| 4 | Elk County | Kansas | $64,609 | $68,500 | 0.94x |
| 5 | King County | Texas | $46,645 | $52,100 | 0.90x |
| 6 | Foard County | Texas | $61,563 | $70,700 | 0.87x |
| 7 | Chautauqua County | Kansas | $56,438 | $65,500 | 0.86x |
| 8 | Kinney County | Texas | $70,000 | $82,000 | 0.85x |
| 9 | Eureka County | Nevada | $70,473 | $82,600 | 0.85x |
| 10 | Cochran County | Texas | $45,313 | $53,200 | 0.85x |
| 11 | Fisher County | Texas | $65,533 | $78,600 | 0.83x |
| 12 | Jewell County | Kansas | $52,634 | $64,600 | 0.81x |
| 13 | Wichita County | Kansas | $79,063 | $99,300 | 0.80x |
| 14 | Alexander County | Illinois | $47,043 | $59,800 | 0.79x |
| 15 | Comanche County | Kansas | $54,545 | $69,600 | 0.78x |
| 16 | Pawnee County | Nebraska | $62,188 | $79,400 | 0.78x |
| 17 | Oglala Lakota County | South Dakota | $41,417 | $52,900 | 0.78x |
| 18 | McPherson County | South Dakota | $66,906 | $85,600 | 0.78x |
| 19 | Todd County | South Dakota | $42,075 | $53,900 | 0.78x |
| 20 | Dewey County | South Dakota | $54,104 | $69,600 | 0.78x |
| 21 | Hardeman County | Texas | $63,333 | $81,900 | 0.77x |
| 22 | Nuckolls County | Nebraska | $73,976 | $96,500 | 0.77x |
| 23 | McIntosh County | North Dakota | $64,419 | $84,200 | 0.77x |
| 24 | Ness County | Kansas | $68,616 | $89,700 | 0.76x |
| 25 | Taliaferro County | Georgia | $52,500 | $68,900 | 0.76x |
Why Home Affordability Matters More Than Ever
Homeownership remains the primary wealth-building vehicle for most American families. Counties where homes cost 2-3x annual income allow families to build equity without sacrificing other financial goals. In contrast, counties where homes cost 6-8x income force buyers into massive debt, delaying retirement savings, college funds, and emergency reserves.
The counties on this list are concentrated in the Midwest, the South, and rural areas of the Mountain West. They are not glamorous destinations, but they offer something increasingly rare: a realistic path to owning a home on a middle-class income.
Methodology
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Income-to-home-value ratio is median household income divided by median home value. Counties missing either metric were excluded.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). All figures are estimates based on survey data and may not reflect current economic conditions.