How much more money you need to make to afford a home in every US state
· Business Insider
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- Incomes have increased in nearly every state, but buying a home hasn't gotten any easier.
- The national median income is still $31,136 short of affording the median-priced home.
- Realtor.com data shows that the additional income needed to buy a home ranges from $2,287 to $98,469.
Nearly every state in the US experienced a bump in household income last year, yet it's still not enough to afford the typical home.
States like Rhode Island and Virginia saw fairly large increases in income from 2024 to 2025 — 9.02% and 7.85%, respectively — but an additional five figures is needed to afford a median-priced home in each state, according to data from the US Census and Realtor.com.
Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones said that even though households are bringing in more money, an increase in mortgage rates since last year isn't helping.
"Mortgage rates are more than one percentage point higher than a year ago, which cuts into buyer budgets and offsets the affordability gains from softening home prices and rising incomes," Jones said. "Nationally, the median household income is not enough to afford the median-priced home in any state."
The national median household income was $84,780 in 2025 — a roughly 3.8% increase from the previous year. However, with the national median listing price at $419,250 in September 2026, that's $31,136 short of the recommended income to buy, assuming a mortgage rate of 7.32% and a 10% down payment, according to Realtor.
Realtor calculated the additional amount needed above the median income to afford the typical home in each state, and found that some require a couple thousand dollars, while others require nearly six figures.
See how much more money you need to afford an average home in each state. States in ascending order of the additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home.
IowaIowa.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $76,483
2024-2025 change in income: 1.30%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $2,287
IllinoisIllinois.Jeremy Poland/Getty Images
Median household income: $86,676
2024-2025 change in income: 4.16%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $3,168
OhioCleveland.Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images
Median household income: $74,804
2024-2025 change in income: 3.59%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $3,718
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania.sdominick/Getty Images
Median household income: $81,473
2024-2025 change in income: 5.07%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $3,961
KansasTopeka, Kansas.Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images
Median household income: $77,824
2024-2025 change in income: 3.06%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $4,015
MichiganMichigan.pawel.gaul/Getty Images
Median household income: $75,832
2024-2025 change in income: 4.76%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $7,086
MissouriMissouri.Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images
Median household income: $75,485
2024-2025 change in income: 5.44%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $7,460
IndianaIndiana.Nicholas Klein/Getty Images
Median household income: $74,516
2024-2025 change in income: 3.55%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $8,153
LouisianaLouisiana.Jeremy Poland/Getty Images
Median household income: $65,139
2024-2025 change in income: 6.81%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $9,512
MarylandMaryland.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $107,700
2024-2025 change in income: 4.66%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $9,806
West VirginiaWest Virginia.Wirestock/Getty Images
Median household income: $61,340
2024-2025 change in income: 0.89%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $10,545
NebraskaNebraska.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $81,614
2024-2025 change in income: 6.86%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $11,008
MinnesotaMinnesota.RudyBalasko/Getty Images
Median household income: $92,297
2024-2025 change in income: 5.95%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $12,739
OklahomaOklahoma.RudyBalasko/Getty Images
Median household income: $68,441
2024-2025 change in income: 3.47%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $13,576
TexasTexas.Jeremy Poland/Getty Images
Median household income: $82,625
2024-2025 change in income: 3.64%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $15,738
KentuckyKentucky.Posnov/Getty Images
Median household income: $66,447
2024-2025 change in income: 2.98%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $18,648
North DakotaNorth Dakota.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $81,545
2024-2025 change in income: 4.72%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $20,948
MississippiMississippi.Dennis MacDonald/Getty Images
Median household income: $59,346
2024-2025 change in income: 0.37%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $21,457
AlabamaAlabama.Kruck20/Getty Images
Median household income: $67,663
2024-2025 change in income: 1.51%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $22,194
ArkansasArkansas.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $65,588
2024-2025 change in income: 5.61%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $22,539
South DakotaRapid City, South Dakota.Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images
Median household income: $80,506
2024-2025 change in income: 4.72%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $23,176
AlaskaAlaska.Sophia Zayas/Getty Images
Median household income: $95,220
2024-2025 change in income: -0.47%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $25,051
South CarolinaSouth Carolina.Alex Potemkin/Getty Images
Median household income: $73,672
2024-2025 change in income: 1.83%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $25,847
GeorgiaGeorgia.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $81,847
2024-2025 change in income: 2.32%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $25,913
VirginiaVirginia.Sean Pavone/Getty Images
Median household income: $99,322
2024-2025 change in income: 7.85%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $26,742
WisconsinThe Milwaukee skyline sits behind the view of the Milwaukee RiverJon Mattrisch/Getty Images
Median household income: $80,213
2024-2025 change in income: 3.52%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $27,588
FloridaFlorida.Dmitry Vinogradov/Getty Images
Median household income: $80,846
2024-2025 change in income: 4.00%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $32,499
North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina.Kruck20/Getty Images
Median household income: $77,638
2024-2025 change in income: 4.98%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $32,956
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $109,505
2024-2025 change in income: -0.18%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $36,341
New MexicoNew Mexico.GummyBone/Getty Images
Median household income: $70,342
2024-2025 change in income: 3.72%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $40,107
DelawareDelaware.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $92,520
2024-2025 change in income: 5.70%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $41,574
MaineMaine.peeterv/Getty Images
Median household income: $81,760
2024-2025 change in income: 6.96%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $42,658
TennesseeTennessee.Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson/Getty Images
Median household income: $75,875
2024-2025 change in income: 5.39%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $42,861
ArizonaArizona.Beata Whitehead/Getty Images
Median household income: $82,940
2024-2025 change in income: 1.78%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $44,215
ConnecticutConnecticut.f11photo/Getty Images
Median household income: $100,056
2024-2025 change in income: 4.17%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $44,407
New JerseyNew Jersey.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $107,797
2024-2025 change in income: 3.36%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $46,896
NevadaNevada.Nisian Hughes/Getty Images
Median household income: $85,198
2024-2025 change in income: 5.01%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $47,515
VermontVermont.halbergman/Getty Images
Median household income: $86,018
2024-2025 change in income: 3.97%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $52,072
ColoradoColorado.Jon Paciaroni/Getty Images
Median household income: $99,729
2024-2025 change in income: 2.69%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $56,208
New HampshireNew Hampshire.Sean Pavone/Getty Images
Median household income: $106,759
2024-2025 change in income: 6.99%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $56,367
WyomingCasper, Wyoming.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $80,894
2024-2025 change in income: 7.10%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $56,381
UtahUtah.Dee Liu/Getty Images
Median household income: $99,311
2024-2025 change in income: 2.74%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $60,774
OregonPortland, Oregon.Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
Median household income: $86,953
2024-2025 change in income: 2.03%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $65,113
Rhode IslandRhode Island.Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images
Median household income: $91,039
2024-2025 change in income: 9.02%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $66,529
WashingtonWashington.Luis Hernandez / 500px/Getty Images
Median household income: $101,946
2024-2025 change in income: 2.57%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $74,859
New YorkNew York.LD/Getty Images
Median household income: $89,210
2024-2025 change in income: 3.95%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $78,063
IdahoBoise, Idaho.Darwin Fan/Getty Images
Median household income: $84,234
2024-2025 change in income: 3.78%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $79,721
MassachusettsMassachusetts.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $106,539
2024-2025 change in income: 1.63%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $90,940
HawaiiHawaii.aaaaimages/Getty Images
Median household income: $105,013
2024-2025 change in income: 4.24%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $97,498
CaliforniaCalifornia.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $102,159
2024-2025 change in income: 2.01%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $98,292
MontanaMontana.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Median household income: $77,099
2024-2025 change in income: 2.33%
Additional household income needed to afford the median-priced home: $98,469
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