The most affordable large US cities to buy a home in 2026 are Pittsburgh, Detroit and St. Louis, where the monthly mortgage payment on a typical home takes 24%, 27% and 27% of the median household income, according to Zillow affordability data on DataPorium as of June 30, 2026 [1]. San Antonio and Cincinnati (29% each) and Houston (30%) follow. At the other end, buyers in Los Angeles would need 69% of the median income for the same payment, and in San Diego, San Francisco and New York close to 60% [1].
How affordability is measured: home value versus household income
A home's price only matters relative to what local households earn. Zillow's affordability measure divides the monthly principal and interest payment on the typical home, bought with 20% down at current mortgage rates, by the median household income in the same metro area [1]. A common benchmark treats 30% of income as the upper limit for housing costs. The measure also produces two related figures: the household income needed to keep that payment at 30% of income, and the number of years a median-income household would need to save a 20% down payment.
The ranking below covers the 30 largest U.S. metro areas by Zillow's size ranking and uses June 2026 data. Nationally, Zillow put the typical home value at $372,057 in June, up 1.1% from a year earlier, and the typical monthly mortgage payment at $1,884, 2.5% lower than a year earlier because mortgage rates had eased [2].
The most affordable large US cities to buy a home in 2026
Only 5 of the 30 largest metros meet the 30% benchmark, and all of them are in the Midwest, Texas or the Rust Belt [1]:
- Pittsburgh: payment equal to 24% of median income; typical home $231,714; income needed $66,300
- St. Louis: payment equal to 27% of median income; typical home $273,971; income needed $77,702
- Detroit: payment equal to 27% of median income; typical home $266,614; income needed $74,302
- San Antonio: payment equal to 29% of median income; typical home $278,021; income needed $80,755
- Cincinnati: payment equal to 29% of median income; typical home $307,830; income needed $84,502
Houston sits exactly at the benchmark at 30%, and Atlanta, Minneapolis and Baltimore are just above it at 31% [1]. In these markets, a household earning the local median can buy the typical home without stretching far beyond conventional lending limits. Pittsburgh stands out: a median-income household there would need about 5.6 years to save a 20% down payment, the shortest time in the group [1].
Why these metros stay affordable
The most affordable large metros combine moderate home values with solid local incomes. Typical home values in June 2026 were $231,714 in Pittsburgh, $266,614 in Detroit and $273,971 in St. Louis, well below the national typical value [1][2]. Houston and San Antonio are affordable for a different reason: builders have been able to add homes quickly on abundant land, and values fell over the past year (-2.1% in Houston and -1.9% in San Antonio) [1].
Home affordability by metro: the full June 2026 ranking
The table ranks the 30 metros from most to least affordable by the share of median household income needed for the mortgage payment on a typical home with 20% down [1].
| Rank | Metro | Typical home value, June 2026 | 1-year change | Payment as share of median income | Income needed (30% rule) | Years to save 20% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | $231,714 | +0.6% | 24% | $66,300 | 5.6 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $273,971 | +3.1% | 27% | $77,702 | 6.3 |
| 3 | Detroit | $266,614 | +2.6% | 27% | $74,302 | 6.5 |
| 4 | San Antonio | $278,021 | -1.9% | 29% | $80,755 | 6.7 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $307,830 | +2.5% | 29% | $84,502 | 7.1 |
| 6 | Houston | $306,091 | -2.1% | 30% | $87,990 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Minneapolis | $388,288 | +2.1% | 31% | $108,985 | 7.5 |
| 8 | Baltimore | $400,317 | +0.7% | 31% | $107,652 | 7.6 |
| 9 | Atlanta | $378,029 | -2.0% | 31% | $102,576 | 7.7 |
| 10 | Dallas | $361,074 | -3.0% | 32% | $105,980 | 7.3 |
| 11 | Chicago | $353,938 | +4.5% | 32% | $101,530 | 7.3 |
| 12 | Charlotte | $386,029 | -0.4% | 32% | $98,948 | 8.4 |
| 13 | Philadelphia | $387,485 | +2.5% | 34% | $109,524 | 8.0 |
| 14 | Washington | $571,970 | -0.3% | 34% | $150,896 | 8.5 |
| 15 | Phoenix | $443,547 | -1.7% | 34% | $108,270 | 9.2 |
| 16 | Austin | $419,154 | -5.7% | 35% | $122,500 | 7.9 |
| 17 | Tampa | $358,855 | -2.9% | 37% | $102,738 | 8.6 |
| 18 | Orlando | $384,446 | -2.8% | 37% | $107,726 | 8.9 |
| 19 | Denver | $558,821 | -2.7% | 37% | $143,527 | 9.7 |
| 20 | Las Vegas | $426,778 | -2.9% | 37% | $104,734 | 10.0 |
| 21 | Portland | $541,947 | -1.0% | 40% | $141,808 | 10.2 |
| 22 | Sacramento | $574,135 | -1.3% | 42% | $148,894 | 10.9 |
| 23 | Boston | $730,752 | +1.7% | 45% | $191,770 | 11.5 |
| 24 | Riverside | $581,486 | -0.6% | 46% | $150,618 | 12.0 |
| 25 | Miami | $473,784 | -2.2% | 48% | $139,006 | 11.0 |
| 26 | Seattle | $729,403 | -1.8% | 48% | $188,797 | 12.2 |
| 27 | New York | $728,367 | +4.1% | 58% | $204,250 | 13.7 |
| 28 | San Francisco | $1,114,546 | +0.1% | 59% | $283,944 | 15.4 |
| 29 | San Diego | $928,846 | -0.6% | 60% | $233,335 | 15.9 |
| 30 | Los Angeles | $951,000 | +0.6% | 69% | $238,218 | 18.4 |
The least affordable large metros
Coastal California dominates the bottom of the ranking. In Los Angeles, the payment on a typical $951,000 home would take 69% of the median household income, and a household would need $238,218 a year to keep it at 30% [1]. San Diego (60%), San Francisco (59%) and New York (58%) follow. In San Francisco, the income needed is $283,944, and saving a 20% down payment would take a median-income household about 15.4 years; in Los Angeles, about 18.4 years [1]. 10 of the 30 metros require 40% of income or more.
The most affordable large metros are not the cheapest in dollars alone but the ones where home values stay close to what local incomes can support.
What mortgage rates mean for affordability in 2026
Affordability improved modestly in the first half of 2026 because mortgage rates were lower than a year earlier. The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.49% in the week of July 9, 2026, according to Freddie Mac data on FRED [3]. Because the payment share depends directly on the rate, small rate moves can push metros near the 30% line above or below it. For buyers weighing a move, the affordable metros also tend to have lower rents relative to incomes, so the case for buying rests on long-term ownership and equity rather than on monthly savings alone. Readers can compare home values, incomes needed and rents for every metro on DataPorium's housing market page [1].
From a policy perspective, the pattern is consistent: metros that allowed housing supply to grow with population, such as Houston and San Antonio, kept homes within reach of median earners, while metros that restrict building price out the middle of the income distribution. The counterpoint is that low-cost metros often offer lower wages and slower home price appreciation, which reduces the equity gains owners can expect.
Key takeaways
- Pittsburgh (24%), Detroit and St. Louis (27% each) were the most affordable of the 30 largest metros in June 2026, measured by mortgage payment as a share of median household income [1].
- Only 5 of the 30 largest metros were below the 30% benchmark; Houston was exactly at it [1].
- Los Angeles was the least affordable at 69% of median income, followed by San Diego (60%) and San Francisco (59%) [1].
- The typical U.S. home value was $372,057 in June 2026 and the typical mortgage payment was $1,884, down 2.5% from a year earlier [2].
Frequently asked questions
What is the most affordable big city to buy a house in 2026?
Among the 30 largest metro areas, Pittsburgh was the most affordable in June 2026: the mortgage payment on a typical $231,714 home equaled 24% of the local median household income, based on Zillow data [1].
How much income do you need to buy a house in 2026?
It depends on the metro. To keep the payment on a typical home at 30% of income with 20% down, a household needed about $66,300 in Pittsburgh, $105,980 in Dallas and $283,944 in San Francisco in June 2026 [1].
Which large cities are least affordable for homebuyers?
Los Angeles (69% of median income), San Diego (60%), San Francisco (59%) and New York (58%) were the least affordable large metros in June 2026 [1].
How long does it take to save for a down payment?
Zillow estimates that a median-income household would need 5.6 years to save a 20% down payment in Pittsburgh and 18.4 years in Los Angeles, based on June 2026 data [1].
