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21 West Coast Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K

October 1, 2024

5 min Read

Written by Nicole Spector

Edited by Levi Leidy

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Many cities on the West Coast, particularly those in California, have become too expensive for folks who may have once found them manageable. A recent survey by ConsumerAffairs ranked California as the No. 1 state people are moving away from in 2024.

One of the most significant factors contributing to the impossibly high cost of living is housing. In California, the cost of housing is 97% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe. Things aren’t tremendously better in Oregon, where the cost of housing is 22% higher than the national average. What can lower-income folks who desperately want or need to live in these pricey West Coast states do? They can look at small cities with homes that are significantly cheaper than the state average.

GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the West Coast of the U.S. to find 21 places where the average single-family home costs under $200K, suggesting that there are homes, on the lower end of the market, for as low as under $100K. Cites are ranked in order from most to least affordable in terms of homeownership, with the cheapest city ranking at No. 1.

21. Powers, Oregon

Population total: 756
Household median income: $37,000
Single family home average value: $197,693
Total cost of living annually: $35,467

20. Alpaugh, California

Population total: 880
Household median income: $39,688
Single family home average value: $196,309
Total cost of living annually: $39,606

19. Bodfish, California

Population total: 2,320
Household median income: $27,215
Single family home average value: $194,203
Total cost of living annually: $38,291

18. Kettleman City, California

Population total: 956
Household median income: $46,261
Single family home average value: $193,635
Total cost of living annually: $37,174

17. Weldon, California

Population total: 2,602
Household median income: $27,377
Single family home average value: $187,615
Total cost of living annually: $37,866

16. Lakeview, Oregon

Population total: 2,947
Household median income: $52,574
Single family home average value: $186,358
Total cost of living annually: $34,490

15. Needles, California

Population total: 4,895
Household median income: $38,368
Single family home average value: $184,839
Total cost of living annually: $38,699

14. Maricopa, California

Population total: 1,217
Household median income: $45,685
Single family home average value: $179,062
Total cost of living annually: $37,168

13. Condon, Oregon

Population total: 697
Household median income: $38,594
Single family home average value: $174,450
Total cost of living annually: $34,182

12. Burns, Oregon

Population total: 2,735
Household median income: $41,374
Single family home average value: $173,523
Total cost of living annually: $33,974

11. Alturas, California

Population total: 2,683
Household median income: $51,051
Single family home average value: $172,994
Total cost of living annually: $35,556

10. Huntington, Oregon

Population total: 682
Household median income: $33,000
Single family home average value: $171,531
Total cost of living annually: $34,236

9. Bieber, California

Population total: 151
Household median income: $46,667
Single family home average value: $169,912
Total cost of living annually: $36,579

8. Boron, California

Population total: 2,469
Household median income: $52,969
Single family home average value: $168,063
Total cost of living annually: $36,588

7. Happy Camp, California

Population total: 679
Household median income: $37,841
Single family home average value: $167,017
Total cost of living annually: $35,848

6. Doyle, California

Population total: 998
Household median income: $51,750
Single family home average value: $163,175
Total cost of living annually: $36,132

5. Stirling City, California

Population total: 501
Household median income: N/A
Single family home average value: $158,807
Total cost of living annually: $36,736

4. Tulelake, California

Population total: 811
Household median income: $41,154
Single family home average value: $154,063
Total cost of living annually: $34,003

3. Dorris, California

Population total: 832
Household median income: $35,313
Single family home average value: $132,917
Total cost of living annually: $33,192

2. Macdoel, California

Population total: 143
Household median income: N/A
Single family home average value: $122,372
Total cost of living annually: $32,290

1. Herlong, California

Population total: 1,280
Household median income: $61,250
Single family home average value: $114,093
Total cost of living annually: $32,397

Methodology. For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities on the West Coast of the United States to find places where you can afford a home for under $200K. The West Coast states consist of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Using the Zillow Home Value Index for single-family homes in September 2024, with average home values of under $200K kept for this study. For each city a number of factors were found including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data the percentage of the population ages 65 and over can be calculated. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes. Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. Using the average single-family home value, assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. With the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the monthly total cost of living can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes to determine the quality of life, and was included as supplemental information. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 26, 2024.

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