How Long It Takes To Save for a Home in Every State

The dream of homeownership could be a few years, or a decade or more, out of a buyer’s grasp — depending on the state they want to buy a home in and the amount of money they do (or don’t) already have in savings to afford it.

A new study reported by Realtor.com analyzed the amount of time it takes to work and save to afford a 10% down payment on a home in each state. California and Hawaii, both states known for their high cost of living and affordable housing shortages, each require working for more than a decade to save enough money for a down payment. Buyers who don’t want to wait this long to own a home, however, might explore relocating to one of the 11 states — including Illinois, Connecticut and Ohio — where they can save up a 10% down payment in under three years. 

In alphabetical order, this is how long it takes to save for a home in every state.

• Median house value (2023): $216,600
• Average monthly income: $4,079
• Cost of down payment: $21,660
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $347,500
• Average monthly income: $5,495
• Cost of down payment: $34,750
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years

• Median house value (2023): $411,200
• Average monthly income: $4,691
• Cost of down payment: $41,120
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Eight years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $195,700
• Average monthly income: $4,357
• Cost of down payment: $19,570
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, five months

• Median house value (2023): $725,800
• Average monthly income: $5,762
• Cost of down payment: $72,580
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: 10 years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $550,300
• Average monthly income: $5,848
• Cost of down payment: $55,030
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Five years, nine months

• Median house value (2023): $367,800
• Average monthly income: $6,343
• Cost of down payment: $36,780
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $359,700
• Average monthly income: $4,899
• Cost of down payment: $35,970
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Six years, two months

• Median house value (2023): $381,000
• Average monthly income: $5,081
• Cost of down payment: $38,100
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Seven years, one month

• Median house value (2023): $323,000
• Average monthly income: $4,407
• Cost of down payment: $32,300
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Seven years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $846,400
• Average monthly income: $4,857
• Cost of down payment: $84,640
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: 28 years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $428,600
• Average monthly income: $4,414
• Cost of down payment: $42,680
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Six years, two months

• Median house value (2023): $263,300
• Average monthly income: $5,252
• Cost of down payment: $26,330
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $225,900
• Average monthly income: $4,560
• Cost of down payment: $22,950
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, three months

• Median house value (2023): $213,300
• Average monthly income: $4,713
• Cost of down payment: $21,330
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $291,800
• Average monthly income: $4,925
• Cost of down payment: $21,980
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, five months

• Median house value (2023): $211,800
• Average monthly income: $4,145
• Cost of down payment: $21,180
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $215,600
• Average monthly income: $4,469
• Cost of down payment: $21,560
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $310,700
• Average monthly income: $4,843
• Cost of down payment: $31,070
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, eight months

• Median house value (2023): $413,600
• Average monthly income: $5,390
• Cost of down payment: $41,360
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $570,800
• Average monthly income: $6,342
• Cost of down payment: $57,080
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Five years, three months

• Median house value (2023): $236,100
• Average monthly income: $4,551
• Cost of down payment: $23,610
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $328,600
• Average monthly income: $5,271
• Cost of down payment: $32,860
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $169,800
• Average monthly income: $3,817
• Cost of down payment: $16,980
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, three months

• Median house value (2023): $233,600
• Average monthly income: $4,661
• Cost of down payment: $23,360
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, two months

• Median house value (2023): $392,300
• Average monthly income: $4,758
• Cost of down payment: $39,230
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Five years, one month

• Median house value (2023): $245,200
• Average monthly income: $5,351
• Cost of down payment: $24,520
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, one month

• Median house value (2023): $441,100
• Average monthly income: $4,880
• Cost of down payment: $44,110
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Six years, seven months

• Median house value (2023): $415,400
• Average monthly income: $5,818
• Cost of down payment: $41,540
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, seven months

• Median house value (2023): $461,000
• Average monthly income: $5,931
• Cost of down payment: $46,100
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $256,300
• Average monthly income: $4,164
• Cost of down payment: $25,630
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $420,200
• Average monthly income: $5,703
• Cost of down payment: $42,020
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $308,600
• Average monthly income: $4,583
• Cost of down payment: $30,860
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, 12 months

• Median house value (2023): $246,700
• Average monthly income: $5,437
• Cost of down payment: $24,670
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, one month

• Median house value (2023): $220,200
• Average monthly income: $4,576
• Cost of down payment: $22,020
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, 11 months

• Median house value (2023): $208,600
• Average monthly income: $4,622
• Cost of down payment: $20,860
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Two years, four months

• Median house value (2023): $484,800
• Average monthly income: $4,886
• Cost of down payment: $48,480
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Seven years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $259,900
• Average monthly income: $5,068
• Cost of down payment: $25,990
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, two months

• Median house value (2023): $411,800
• Average monthly income: $4,985
• Cost of down payment: $41,180
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Five years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $272,900
• Average monthly income: $4,273
• Cost of down payment: $27,290
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, 10 months

• Median house value (2023): $268,200
• Average monthly income: $5,551
• Cost of down payment: $26,820
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: One year, 12 months

• Median house value (2023): $307,300
• Average monthly income: $4,745
• Cost of down payment: $30,730
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, 11 months

• Median house value (2023): $296,900
• Average monthly income: $5,012
• Cost of down payment: $29,690
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, nine months

• Median house value (2023): $517,700
• Average monthly income: $4,670
• Cost of down payment: $51,770
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Eight years, five months

• Median house value (2023): $332,000
• Average monthly income: $4,955
• Cost of down payment: $33,200
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, six months

• Median house value (2023): $382,900
• Average monthly income: $5,376
• Cost of down payment: $38,290
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Four years, three months

• Median house value (2023): $576,000
• Average monthly income: $5,935
• Cost of down payment: $57,600
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Five years, five months

• Median house value (2023): $163,700
• Average monthly income: $4,006
• Cost of down payment: $16,370
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, five months

• Median house value (2023): $272,500
• Average monthly income: $4,819
• Cost of down payment: $27,250
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: Three years, three months

• Median house value (2023): $298,700
• Average monthly income: $6,058
• Cost of down payment: $29,870
• Time needed to work to afford down payment: One year, 11 months