These are the 10 cheapest states to buy a house in 2022—and Florida isn't one of them (2024)

In August, Homebuyer.com used the median household income and the median home price in each state to determine the most affordable states in the U.S. to buy a house in 2022.

The list ranked each state based on the average percent of income it takes to cover monthly mortgage costs — from lowest to highest.

No. 1 cheapest state to buy a house in 2022: Iowa

Median home price: $147, 800

Median household income: $79,500

Estimated monthly mortgage payment: $702

Percentage income to PMT: 10.6%

Iowa came in at the top of the list with the lowest average median household income it takes to be able to afford a house.

The largest housing markets in the Midwestern state include Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.

Top 10 cheapest states to buy a house in 2022

  1. Iowa
  2. Indiana
  3. Ohio
  4. Nebraska
  5. Kansas
  6. Mississippi
  7. West Virginia
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Michigan
  10. Arkansas

Indiana is the runner-up, with a median home price of $141,700 and an estimated monthly mortgage payment of just over $670.

The biggest cities in the state include Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Bloomington. It also is home to major colleges like Purdue, Ball State, and Indiana University.

The state that rounded out the top three was another one in the Midwest: Ohio. The Buckeye state's median home price is $145,700, and an estimated monthly mortgage payment of $692.24.

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These are the 10 cheapest states to buy a house in 2022—and Florida isn't one of them (2024)

FAQs

These are the 10 cheapest states to buy a house in 2022—and Florida isn't one of them? ›

Mississippi

Emerging as the most economical state, Mississippi boasts a cost of living index score of 86. It touts the lowest average housing costs in the country, standing at 33.7% below the national average, with a median single-family home priced around $140,818.

What is the cheapest state in the USA to buy a house? ›

Cheapest Houses in USA
#StateLowest Home Value
1Hawaii$417,767
2California$411,963
3District of Columbia$406,475
4Washington$347,311
47 more rows

What state has the lowest cost of living in the US 2022? ›

Mississippi

Emerging as the most economical state, Mississippi boasts a cost of living index score of 86. It touts the lowest average housing costs in the country, standing at 33.7% below the national average, with a median single-family home priced around $140,818.

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in? ›

The cheapest states to live in are Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Mississippi is the cheapest state to live in in the US, with a cost of living index of 85. The second cheapest state to live in is Oklahoma, with a cost of living index of 85.8.

What state is the best state to buy a house? ›

Do You Know the Best State for Homeownership?
  • Wyoming. Thanks to its relatively low property tax rate and low average closing costs, many folks in the state of Wyoming can afford to own a home. ...
  • South Dakota. ...
  • Idaho. ...
  • North Dakota. ...
  • Utah. ...
  • Colorado. ...
  • Minnesota. ...
  • Montana.

Is Florida expensive to live in? ›

The cost of living in Florida is 2% lower than the national average. Housing is same as the national average, while utilities are 2% lower. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 4% lower than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 4% lower.

Is Florida cheap to live in? ›

The Bottom Line. The cost of living in Florida is 1% higher than the national average. It is also home to some of the most expensive cities in America. However, if you want to shift to Florida, you can find affordable housing in cities like Lake City, Deltona, and Pensacola.

What is the cheapest state for seniors to live in? ›

According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the lowest overall costs of living were found in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and West Virginia: Cheapest states to retire.

Is Florida the most expensive state to live in? ›

According to several studies on cost of living, Hawaii is the most expensive U.S. state to live in. Prices are typically double in Hawaii compared to those on the mainland, and the continued rise in inflation is making costs ranging from housing to health care much more expensive.

Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live? ›

Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory residents enjoy a lower cost of living than those in the more populated parts of the state and spend just 18.95% of the median household income on housing, making it the Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024.

In what state is everything cheap? ›

1. Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. It also has the lowest average housing costs in the nation at 33.7% below the national average.

What are the three most affordable states to live in? ›

The most affordable U.S. state overall is Utah, in which the cost of living makes up 63.3% of average residents' income. Coming in second place is Tennessee, in which the cost of living makes up 63.7% of average income. Meanwhile, Arizona comes in third place, with cost of living making up 64.1% of average income.

Which city in the US has the most affordable housing? ›

1. Green Bay, Wis. Roughly 120 miles north of Milwaukee, Green Bay ranks as the most affordable city in our study. The median monthly rent in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was just $870 as of March 2023 — the 10th-lowest across all 223 cities.

What city has the lowest cost of living? ›

Fort Wayne. City in Indiana, 909 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars. Featured Review: Current Resident says I have lived in or around Fort Wayne for my entire life.

What state has the cheapest property taxes? ›

States With the Lowest Property Taxes in 2024
  • Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.29%. ...
  • Alabama is generally one of the more affordable states in the country. ...
  • Colorado has the third-lowest property tax rate at 0.51%. ...
  • Nevada has the fourth-lowest property tax rate in the nation (0.55%).
Dec 21, 2023

Why are houses in Texas so cheap? ›

The affordability of housing in Texas is driven not just by the availability of land but also by a business-friendly environment and more affordable labor. This has had an obvious impact on building costs, which consequently helps make homes cheaper overall.

What is the most expensive state to buy a house in the US? ›

Hawaii is known for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and breathtaking scenery. However, it is also the most expensive state to buy a house, with a Zillow Home Value Index of $834,582.

What state has the lowest home ownership? ›

Vermont trailed them with a 73.7 percent rate. The East Coast also has the state with the lowest rate of homeownership in the country: New York, at 54.1 percent. On the opposite side of the country is the second-lowest rate in the nation: California's 55.8 percent.

Where is the cheapest real estate? ›

15 Cheapest States To Buy A House
  1. West Virginia. Median Home Sold Price. $208,968. ...
  2. Oklahoma. Median Home Sold Price. $229,927. ...
  3. Louisiana. Median Home Sold Price. $239,937. ...
  4. Mississippi. Median Home Sold Price. ...
  5. Kansas. Median Home Sold Price. ...
  6. Iowa. Median Home Sold Price. ...
  7. Arkansas. Median Home Sold Price. ...
  8. Illinois. Median Home Sold Price.
Jan 2, 2024

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