Want To Buy A Home? These Are The Cheapest And Most Expensive States, According To Data
If 2025 will be the year that you buy a house, this article is for you. Whether you're staying put in your home state or looking at moving to greener pastures (or possibly not green if you're sick of green), knowing how much you can expect to pay for a single-family home is important. We've broken down the states by their housing costs. Let's get started.
What Was The Average Cost For A Single-Family Home In 2024?
Before we dive into the data, let's first understand the context.
The US housing market increased in price in 2024 by about 4.5%. Mortgage lending rates, according to Bankrate's national survey, were at an all-time high of 6.88% in September of last year.
In 2024, the average value of a single-family home was $420,400.
The Cheap Seats
If you're looking to save money, it may be best to consider moving to some of the following states, as they represent the "cheap seats" of the US housing market—with an average price of between $200,000 and $299,999 for a single-family home.
Iowa
One of America's cheapest states to buy a home is Iowa—the Hawkeye state. Iowa is the highest producer of beef, pork, soybeans, and grain production in the United States.
The average cost of a family home in Iowa? A mere $241,000. If you've always wanted to live on a farm, or at least be in the heartland, then Iowa is the place for you. Cheap as chips.
Kepper66, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma
Another vote for the American heartland here. Oklahoma comes up next in our cheap housing rankings! The average price of a single-family home in Oklahoma is $247,000. If you're a cowboy/cowgirl at heart and have long dreamed of a life in the Midwest, you can find your very own (reasonably priced) farmhouse.
Or, there's the urban options of Oklahoma City, or if your kids will be going to college, Norman is a great college community.
MARELBU, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana
Just ever-so-slightly more expensive than Oklahoma is Louisiana. The cost of a home in Cajun country is $248,000, but you get a culture and food scene that's heavily influenced by the French, who were forcibly resettled in the region in the 19th century by the British. If the bayou is more your scene, then Louisiana is a very affordable option, if more expensive than midwestern Oklahoma.
Ohio
Stepping up from the $240,000 range is the state of Ohio, where the average single-family house price is $255,000. If you love music and history and want to be at the epicenter of both, then Ohio is the place to be. Ohio is the home of R&B, rock and roll, and was the birthplace of the Wright Brothers.
Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi
If the Deep South has appeal to you, then Mississippi is next on your affordability list—but only if you can say it three times fast. We're just kidding, that's not a requirement to buy a home there (maybe it should be), but what is a requirement is that you love catfish and appreciate Elvis Presley. If you're looking to move to Mississippi, you can expect to pay an average of $257,000 for a single-family home.
Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas
Despite being one of the most affordable states in the country, Arkansas' average housing price is slightly higher than the above-mentioned tongue-twister. Sitting at $260,000 for a single-family home, you can expect a huge reduction in your costs of utilities and transportation, even if you'll pay a little more than Ole Miss residents for your home.
West Virginia
"West Virginia... mountain mama.
.. take me home... country roads". SING IT! Seriously, it's the law in West Virginia. Okay, so it isn't really the law, but that doesn't stop West Virginian housing prices from being slightly more expensive than Arkansas. At $261,000, you're going to absolutely love the serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains, or if you prefer the city, then the capital of Charleston is bustling.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
Indiana
Also on-par with their West Virginian compatriots are Indiana, who, despite not having as memorable a song as John Denver's "Country Roads", still have excellent housing prices! The average family home in Indiana is an affordable $261,000. A huge manufacturing and agricultural hub in the heartland, Indiana is a great option for motoring enthusiasts, thanks to the Indy 500.
Michigan
Manufacturing and industry lives here in Michigan—home to the first Ford Motor Company production plant in the US, which opened in Detroit in 1904. An automotive industry legacy as old as time, Michigan's average home price is $267,000.
CroxyBoxy47, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky
Next on our list is Kentucky—home of horse racing (thanks, Kentucky Derby), moonshine and of course, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentuckians pay an average of $271,000 for a single-family home.
Norwick at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Missouri
Missouri's second-most populated city, St Louis, is known as the "Gateway to the West" and is famous for the St Louis Arch. It has a fair few random oversized objects as well:
a 42-foot tall rocking chair, a 43-foot tall rooster, and the world's largest chess piece. Missourians are playing 5D chess with their housing prices, too, as they average out at $273,000.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alabama
Slightly more expensive than Missouri is Alabama. If white sand beaches, football rivalries as old as time, and plenty of natural beauty sound appealing to you, then it's time to "ROLL TIDE"! with the rest of Alabamans.
You'll pay an average of $277,000 for a single-family home, but be surrounded by more Southern hospitality than you can imagine.
Anivron , CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kansas
"We're not in Kansas anymo—" sorry, Dorothy, but we are in Kansas now. You can tell by the Great Plains, oil wells and rigs, and the sharp differences in temperatures between winter and summer. Oh, and the housing prices—they're a moderately expensive $288,000 in the "Breadbasket of America".
Mike Linksvayer, Wikimedia Commons
Illinois
Illinois' housing prices won't make you ill. They sneak in at under $289,000 for a single-family home. The home of Ernest Hemingway, Betty White, and Walt Disney, Illinois also has some of the strangest city names in the US, like Worth (how much)?
and Normal (says who)?.
Bert Kaufmann, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska
Nebraska and Illinois are about a 10-hour drive from one another, as you head west on your quest for slightly more expensive housing, perhaps? Well, you'll find it in Nebraska. Staying in the "cheap seats" of the US, Nebraska's average house price for a single-family home is $290,000. Insignificantly more expensive than Illinois or Kentucky, decide what kind of lifestyle you want and go forth!
Collinulness, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota
Home to such places as Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota is where you'll find some of the most diverse geography in North America. Though sparsely populated and comprised of valleys, prairies and plains, North Dakota is the most expensive of the "Cheap Seats" in the United States, with the average single-family house price of $296,000.
Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Mid-Range
If you're not cash-strapped and have some money to spend on a home, then these states represent the middle-of-the-road housing cost for a single-family home. On these homes, you can expect to spend between $300,000 and $400,000.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania—the site of the signing of the Declaration on Independence on August 2, 1776. Housing prices back then were but a few Pounds Sterling.
Nowadays, newcomers to Pennsylvania can immerse themselves in the history of the state, or enjoy horse racing at Pocono Raceway. Or, hike parts of the Appalachian Trail that go through the state. Pennsylvania breaks through the mid-range house price at $319,000.
Governor Tom Wolf, PA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin
"HELLO WISCONSIN"! as Eric says in That 70's Show. But that legendary intro isn't Wisconsin's only claim to fame—it's also known as "America's Dairyland," as it produces more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year. Maybe it's the cheese industry that reflects Wisconsin's average housing price of $326,000.
Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
South Dakota
North Dakota's sister state is home to many gorgeous national parks and icons of America, like Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial. Honoring its Indigenous heritage and history is important to South Dakotans.
The average house price in South Dakota is $340,000.
Maxpower2727, Wikimedia Commons
Texas
The great state of Texas. If you love barbecues, rodeos, the Dallas Cowboys, and the blazing sun all day long, then Texas may be the perfect place for you to buy a home! Coming in at $349,000 for a single-family home, it's not the most expensive state in the world and you'll find more of that famed Southern hospitality.
WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota
If you don't know what the Jucy Lucy Burger is, then you have to move to Minnesota to find out. Okay, we'll tell you—it's a cheeseburger that's got cheese inside the meat and then drizzled over the top of the patty. It's one of the most infamous dishes in Minnesota.
Minnesota is also famous for being the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", as it has an incredible 14,420 bodies of water. The average house price to enjoy a Jucy Lucy in close proximity to a lake? $364,000.
Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Georgia
Getting up closer to that $400,000 benchmark—where things get expensive—is Georgia. Home to the headquarters of Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and Home Depot, and the late President Carter's boyhood farm, buying a home in Georgia will cost you $388,000.
Lee Coursey, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina
Slightly more expensive than the home of Coca-Cola is North Carolina.
Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the birthplace of Pepsi (New Bern, NC) and Krispy Kreme donuts (Winston-Salem, NC). But sipping a cold Pepsi on a ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains, while chowing down on a Krispy Kreme donut will cost you. The average house price is $390,000.
Bz3rk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Vermont
With a maple syrup production that rivals Canada, Vermont is a hotspot of stunning natural beauty.
Fall in Vermont is simply the best time of year. It's also the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. So, if maple trees, maple syrup, and ice cream all sound appealing to you, along with help with a down payment from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, you could find a home in the state for $395,800.
AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alaska
Have you ever wanted to move somewhere that feels like a world away from the United States, but still want to remain in American territory?
If Puerto Rico isn't to your liking, then Alaska might be. Nestled above Canada (and to the left) lies a vast expanse of wilderness. Famous for its outdoorsy lifestyle year-round, Alaskan bears, wolves, moose, and more, buying a home in Alaska will cost you an average of $396,000.
Mark Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Mexico
On par with Alaska for housing, but within the contiguous United States, is New Mexico. Moving to Alaska might be more expensive as you'd have to fly or drive all of your possessions up there.
New Mexico single-family homes also cost an average of $396,000.
Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee
Are you from Tennessee? Does your house cost almost $400,000? Tennesseans love their state—it's the home of country music in the United States (thanks, Nashville and Memphis)! and gave the world Dolly Parton. It's also home to 30 different species of salamanders, and if you're a biologist or ecologist, you'll love exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unfortunately, you will pay an average of $397,000 for a single-family home.
M I N E I A M A R T I N S, Pexels
South Carolina
If you enjoy life in the slow lane, then South Carolina may be just what you're looking for.
Famous for its Southern charm, white sandy beaches, and proud of not being North Carolinians (don't ask), South Carolinian house prices have broken the $400,000 mark. They currently set you back about $402,000 for a single-family home. Ouch.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Delaware
Washington, DC-adjacent, Delaware was the first state in the US to ratify the Constitution. It's the second-smallest state in the country by land area and has a population of just over 1 million people. If you're looking to move to Delaware, though, expect to pay for it.
An eye-watering $403,000.
Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Maine
Maine is a beautiful East Coast haven, not far from the Canadian border. The roaring Atlantic Ocean feeds small fishing communities dotted down the coast. Maine Lobster and clams are among the state's delicacies, so if you love seafood, you'll love Maine. Unfortunately for those looking to transplant from west to east, you may still be surprised that the average single-family home sells for $414,000.
AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Florida
Florida is everything you could want in a place:
almost always hot and sunny with decent temperatures year-round, even in the winter. The Sunshine State is also home to Disneyworld and various other theme parks. So, if you enjoy the hot weather and have young children, you could purchase a home in Florida for $433,000.
AndrewAvitus, Wikimedia Commons
Arizona
If you're a big fan of wide open spaces, then Arizona will fit the bill perfectly. The hot, dry summers and incredibly desert vistas.
Site of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Horseshoe Bend, Arizona offers spectacular outdoor adventures year-round. Arizona's median house price is $462,000.
Melikamp, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Idaho
Producer of one-third of the nation's potatoes, Idaho is best known for its rich agricultural landscapes, and vast outdoor spaces await. Unfortunately, Idahoans pay some of the highest real estate prices in the country, at $491,000 for a single-family home.
Jyoni Shuler, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Most Expensive States
If money is no object and you have your pick of where you can afford to buy a home, then these are the states for you. Or, any of the others, really.
Here are the states where the median price of a single-family home is the highest. That is, the median household price is between $500,000 and over $1,000,000.
Maryland
From a vast fishing industry that includes blue crab to industries like coal mining, LNG and limestone excavation, the "Old Line State" is rich with military history, too. It's home to the US Naval Academy, Fort McHenry, and Antietam National Battlefield. Maryland housing prices are among the most expensive in the US, with a single-family home costing an astonishing average of $513,000.
New York
It's no surprise that New York is high on our list of the most expensive places to buy a house in 2025. But its place in our list surprised us, too.
Not as expensive as Oregon? Really? New Yorkers might take offense. But if you love the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, but also don't want to be too far from some of the country's most beautiful East Coast scenery, then New York State might fit you perfectly. Of course, you'll need some serious cash to buy a home there—with the average home costing $522,000.
Karthikc123, Wikimedia Commons
Oregon
Oregonians truly enjoy some of the best of both worlds:
bustling, vibrant cities like Portland and Eugene, while sitting on the truly incredible West Coast of the United States, and not being too far from the Canadian border. Oregonians love their state. From Mount Hood to the Willamette Valley, you're sure to find your own slice of West Coast paradise. Unfortunately, that slice will also cost you $522,000.
M.O. Stevens, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Montana
Another surprise entrant at this late date is Montana. Who'd have thought that a couple of Midwestern states would be among the most expensive places to buy a home? Not I.
It's probably because of stunning natural beauty that stems from being in the Rocky Mountains. Montanans are spoiled by it—and you can be too, for the price of $539,000 for a single-family home. At least the view is nice, right?
Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey
New Jersey and New York have this (mostly) friendly inter-state rivalry over all things from hockey to football to who owns Liberty and Ellis Islands. While that can be debated for time immemorial, what can't be is the price of housing in New Jersey. It outpaces New York by $20,000—costing an average of $542,000 for a single-family home.
Utah
Utah, really?
One of the most expensive states to buy a house? According to the data, yes! Whether you pronounce it "Yew-Tah" or "Yew-Taw" upon moving there, you'll soon be pronouncing it, "OMG" as you see that the average house price for a single-family home in Utah is $620,000.
Jkinsocal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is famous for being a hotbed of patriotic fervor during the American Revolution—tea party, anyone? Famous also for the Salem Witch Trials and the landing site of the Mayflower, Massachusetts is an American history lover's paradise!
That is, if you can afford the $646,000 average home price.
Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colorado
As the Zac Brown Band once said, "She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him". Probably because he was going somewhere cheaper to live... It's expensive being in the mountainous heart of America. Colorado is breathtakingly beautiful, but also ridiculously expensive to buy property in. You're looking at an average housing price of $662,000.
Sheila Sund, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Washington
Another West Coast gem that's got Oregon's number is Washington state.
From the hipster paradise of Seattle and the birthplace of Starbucks, to some of the most beautiful national parks in the country, Washingtonians hate being confused for "the other" Washington. Fortunately, if you just look at the housing prices—a staggering $677,000—you'll never mistake one for the other again.
Jeffery Hayes, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California
And almost at the top of our list is the US state with the highest cost of living: California. Leading producer (80%) of the world's almonds, home to the General Sherman Tree (the world's largest), and a state animal that's extinct in the region (the California grizzly bear), Californian homes cost an average of $869,000—the most expensive in the contiguous United States.
Hawaii
We're almost there!
Hawaii is the second-most expensive place to buy a home in the United States. Because of its island setting at almost 2,000 miles south of the US mainland, Hawaii's housing is sparse, and with homes fetching an average price of $947,000, it has become unaffordable for the native Islanders of Hawaii.
ArdentArbitration, Wikimedia Commons
What's The Most Expensive State To Buy A Home In The United States?
Surprisingly, compared to the cost of living metrics we've covered, it's not California. No. The most expensive state to buy a home in the entire United States is Washington, DC. Average home prices in the nation's capital are an eye-watering $1,195,000. If you've got a cool million to spend on a home and like being at the beating heart of national politics, then DC beckons!
Ben Schumin, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
An Increase In Housing Prices & Sales Expected In 2025
2025 is predicted to be a great year to sell your home, with Fannie Mae estimating that housing prices will increase by 3.6% in 2025 and a further 1.7% in 2026. They also estimate that home sales will increase by 5.3%. If you're looking to sell, then 2025 might be a great year to do so. If you're looking to buy? Maybe wait until 2026.
Where Would You Like To Live?
Now that you know the facts on housing affordability in the US, whereabouts would you like to live?
Where could you afford to buy a home? Share your story in the comments.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, Wikimedia Commons
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