The 10 States Where You Need the Most Amount of Income to Buy a Home in 2024

Owning a home used to be a rite of passage for the middle class. The years immediately following the end of WWII were particularly booming for homebuyers. Thanks to new construction, government insured loans that had relatively low down payment requirements, millions of veterans returning to civilian life were able to purchase homes.  

But those days are long gone. Today, mortgage interest rates are sky high, inventory isn’t keeping up with demand and a steep 20% down payment is the norm. That’s quite a pretty penny when considering that the median home price, U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the median sales price of houses sold in the U.S was $420,800 as of May 23, 2024. 

Home prices vary widely based on location. Some states are infamously more expensive than others. To work out whether you can afford a home in any state this year, it’s important to know how much income is needed.  

In a recent study, GOBankingRates found each state’s average 2024 home value and average monthly mortgage assuming buyers would choose a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and make a 20% down payment with a 6.82% interest rate. From there, assuming housing costs could not exceed 30% of gross income, GOBankingRates found the minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home in each state.

These are the 10 states where the most amount of income is required to buy a home in 2024. 

• 2024 average home value: $449,576
• 20% down payment: $89,915.15
• Loan amount: $359,660.62
• Monthly mortgage: $2,349.51
• Annual mortgage: $28,194.14
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $93,980.47

• 2024 average home value: $474,549
• 20% down payment: $94,909.87
• Loan amount: $379,639.47
• Monthly mortgage: $2,480.03
• Annual mortgage: $29,760.30
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $99,201.00

• 2024 average home value: $494,672
• 20% down payment: $98,934.35
• Loan amount: $395,737.41
• Monthly mortgage: $2,585.19
• Annual mortgage: $31,022.23
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $103,407.45

• 2024 average home value: $518,053
• 20% down payment: $103,610.60
• Loan amount: $414,442.38
• Monthly mortgage: $2,707.38
• Annual mortgage: $32,488.53
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $108,295.12

• 2024 average home value: $519,376
• 20% down payment: $103,875.13
• Loan amount: $415,500.51
• Monthly mortgage: $2,714.29
• Annual mortgage: $32,571.48
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $108,571.61

• 2024 average home value: $550,945
• 20% down payment: $110,188.90
• Loan amount: $440,755.61
• Monthly mortgage: $2,879.27
• Annual mortgage: $34,551.25
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $115,170.84

• 2024 average home value: $589,240
• 20% down payment: $117,847.99
• Loan amount: $471,391.97
• Monthly mortgage: $3,079.41
• Annual mortgage: $36,952.87
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $123,176.22

• 2024 average home value: $615,963
• 20% down payment: $123,192.52
• Loan amount: $492,770.08
• Monthly mortgage: $3,219.06
• Annual mortgage: $38,628.72
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $128,762.39

• 2024 average home value: $785,333
• 20% down payment: $157,066.65
• Loan amount: $628,266.60
• Monthly mortgage: $4,104.20
• Annual mortgage: $49,250.42
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $164,168.07

• 2024 average home value: $967,270
• 20% down payment: $193,454.00
• Loan amount: $773,816.01
• Monthly mortgage: $5,055.01
• Annual mortgage: $60,660.18
• Minimum salary needed to comfortably afford a home: $202,200.59