However, some markets offer more opportunity for median-income consumers to purchase a property in their price range.
"While expensive markets like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston are attractive destinations for many reasons, there are attractive alternatives for millennial first-time homebuyers," Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American, said in the report. "Smaller cities such as Oklahoma City, Louisville, Ky., or Memphis, Tenn., are 'affordability friendly' because the median renter's house-buying power in these cities allows first-time home buyers to consider a much larger selection of homes to buy."
From Middle American to the Midwestern plains, here's a look at the 12 cities where first-time homebuyers can afford the largest share of houses for sale,
For the report, First American examined
No. 12 Cincinnati, Ohio
3Q 2019 median sale price: $171,916
3Q 2019 median household income: $35,700
No. 11 Chicago, Ill.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $230,666
3Q 2019 median household income: $45,903
No. 10 St. Louis, Mo.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $175,000
3Q 2019 median household income: $36,721
No. 9 Indianapolis, Ind.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $195,111
3Q 2019 median household income: $40,025
No. 8 Atlanta, Ga.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $221,816
3Q 2019 median household income: $46,920
No. 7 Tampa, Fla.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $207,333
3Q 2019 median household income: $43,679
No. 6 Pittsburgh, Pa.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $157,750
3Q 2019 median household income: $37,126
No. 5 Kansas City, Mo.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $220,172
3Q 2019 median household income: $47,153
No. 4 Birmingham, Ala.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $161,816
3Q 2019 median household income: $38,760
No. 3 Memphis, Tenn.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $158,537
3Q 2019 median household income: $37,873
No. 2 Louisville, Ky.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $182,050
3Q 2019 median household income: $42,840
No. 1 Oklahoma City, Okla.
3Q 2019 median sale price: $160,000
3Q 2019 median household income: $37,074