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Housing markets

10 most and least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home

ByNMN Staff
January 14, 2025 5:00 AM
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With continued high prices, homebuying seems impossible to many Americans. A study from TradingPedia based on an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data ranked the 10 most and least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home as of November 30, 2024.

San Jose, California, is the most expensive city to purchase a home, with a median home sale price of $1,528,500. Detroit, Michigan, is the least expensive city to purchase a home, with a median home sale price of $192,000. 

Read more about the most and least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home. *Data is from November, 2024, and predates the January wildfires that struck Los Angeles.

Most expensive cities to buy a home

Rank Metro areas Median home sale price
10 Newark, New Jersey $590,061
9 Nassau County, New York $695,000
8 Boston, Massachusetts $710,000
7 New York, New York $735,000
6 Seattle, Washington $814,757
5 San Diego, California $890,000
4 Los Angeles, California $900,000
3 Oakland, California $957,000
2 Anaheim, California $1,180,000
1 San Jose, California $1,528,500

Least expensive cities to buy a home

Rank Metro areas Median home sale price
10 Birmingham, Alabama $293,500
9 Cincinnati, Ohio $288,000
8 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania $280,000
7 Memphis, Tennessee $271,000
6 Louisville, Kentucky $270,000
5 St. Louis, Missouri $262,750
4 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma $260,000
3 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania $228,000
2 Cleveland, Ohio $220,000
1 Detroit, Michigan $192,000

Most expensive U.S. cities for home buying

Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Newark, New Jersey, ranks 10th.
Newark, New Jersey ranked 10th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $590,061.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Nassau County, New York ranks 9th.
Nassau County, New York ranked 9th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $695,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Boston, Massachusetts, ranks 8th.
Boston, Massachusetts ranked 8th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $710,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where New York, New York ranks 7th.
New York, New York ranked 7th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $735,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Seattle, Washington, ranks 6th.
Seattle, Washington ranked 6th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $814,757.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where San Diego, California ranks 5th.
San Diego, California ranked 5th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $890,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Los Angeles, California ranks 4th.
Los Angeles, California ranked 5th in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $900,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Oakland, California ranks 3rd.
Oakland, California ranked 3rd in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $957,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Anaheim, California ranks 2nd.
Anaheim, California ranked 2nd in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $1,180,000.
Chart showing most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where San Jose, California ranks 1st.
San Jose, California ranked 1st in the most expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $1,528,500.

Least expensive U.S. cities for home buying


Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Birmingham, Alabama ranks 10th.
Birmingham, Alabama ranked 10th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $293,500.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Cincinnati, Ohio ranks 9th.
Cincinnati, Ohio ranked 9th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $288,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ranks 8th.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ranked 8th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $280,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Memphis, Tennessee ranks 7th.
Memphis, Tennessee ranked 7th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $271,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Louisville, Kentucky ranks 6th.
Louisville, Kentucky ranked 6th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $270,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where St. Louis, Missouri ranks 5th.
St. Louis, Missouri ranked 5th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $262,750.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ranks 4th.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ranked 4th in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $260,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ranks 3rd.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ranked 3rd in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $228,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Cleveland, Ohio ranks 2nd.
Cleveland, Ohio ranked 2nd in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $220,000.
Chart showing least expensive U.S. cities to buy a home, where Detroit, Michigan ranks 1st.
Detroit, Michigan ranked 1st in the least expensive cities to buy a home with a median home sale price of $192,000.
NMN Staff
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