The median home value is now nearly $350,000, making homes unaffordable for many Americans. Fortunately, there are still major cities where you can find homes for under $300,000.
To find the 50 best cities to buy a home for under $300,000, GOBankingRates analyzed the 100 most populous cities where average home values remained below that threshold for the past year. Once these cities were identified, GOBankingRates ranked cities based on median household income, livability, crime rates, unemployment rates, percent of the population living below the poverty line and annual cost of living expenditures.
Based on these factors, these are the best cities for you if you have a homebuying budget of $300,000.
50. Louisville, Kentucky
- Average home value: $245,459
- Median household income: $64,731
- Annual cost of living: $39,850
- Livability score: 66
49. Lafayette, Louisiana
- Average home value: $218,800
- Median household income: $61,454
- Annual cost of living: $38,993
- Livability score: 73
48. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Average home value: $245,187
- Median household income: $45,599
- Annual cost of living: $41,435
- Livability score: 80
47. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Average home value: $185,445
- Median household income: $56,864
- Annual cost of living: $35,100
- Livability score: 68
46. Topeka, Kansas
- Average home value: $186,059
- Median household income: $55,902
- Annual cost of living: $35,493
- Livability score: 69
45. Pasadena, Texas
- Average home value: $220,032
- Median household income: $64,270
- Annual cost of living: $39,428
- Livability score: 66
44. Columbia, South Carolina
- Average home value: $233,254
- Median household income: $55,653
- Annual cost of living: $39,278
- Livability score: 79
43. Kansas City, Missouri
- Average home value: $235,526
- Median household income: $67,449
- Annual cost of living: $39,123
- Livability score: 78
42. Mobile, Alabama
- Average home value: $188,413
- Median household income: $51,090
- Annual cost of living: $36,472
- Livability score: 73
41. Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Average home value: $216,226
- Median household income: $56,395
- Annual cost of living: $37,666
- Livability score: 73
40. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Average home value: $205,518
- Median household income: $58,407
- Annual cost of living: $37,017
- Livability score: 75
39. Killen, Texas
- Average home value: $219,709
- Median household income: $58,339
- Annual cost of living: $37,044
- Livability score: 63
38. Hamilton, Ohio
- Average home value: $278,344
- Median household income: $54,293
- Annual cost of living: $41,056
- Livability score: 71
37. Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Average home value: $287,175
- Median household income: $53,403
- Annual cost of living: $43,997
- Livability score: 78
36. San Antonio
- Average home value: $252,102
- Median household income: $62,917
- Annual cost of living: $40,007
- Livability score: 80
35. Mesquite, Texas
- Average home value: $267,193
- Median household income: $71,843
- Annual cost of living: $43,329
- Livability score: 69
34. Amarillo, Texas
- Average home value: $195,549
- Median household income: $62,469
- Annual cost of living: $34,728
- Livability score: 66
33. Indianapolis
- Average home value: $227,018
- Median household income: $62,995
- Annual cost of living: $37,999
- Livability score: 76
32. Lansing, Michigan
- Average home value: $149,859
- Median household income: $52,170
- Annual cost of living: $32,708
- Livability score: 79
31. Newport News, Virginia
- Average home value: $285,230
- Median household income: $66,718
- Annual cost of living: $42,892
- Livability score: 76
30. Norfolk, Virginia
- Average home value: $298,589
- Median household income: $64,017
- Annual cost of living: $43,067
- Livability score: 81
29. Greensboro, North Carolina
- Average home value: $263,295
- Median household income: $58,884
- Annual cost of living: $39,375
- Livability score: 83
28. Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Average home value: $285,951
- Median household income: $49,661
- Annual cost of living: $45,318
- Livability score: 80
27. Lubbock, Texas
- Average home value: $201,215
- Median household income: $60,487
- Annual cost of living: $36,184
- Livability score: 78
26. Brownsville, Texas
- Average home value: $190,186
- Median household income: $48,675
- Annual cost of living: $34,683
- Livability score: 79
25. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Average home value: $180,797
- Median household income: $43,397
- Annual cost of living: $34,185
- Livability score: 82
24. Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Average home value: $269,233
- Median household income: $65,526
- Annual cost of living: $40,378
- Livability score: 83
23. Akron, Ohio
- Average home value: $129,333
- Median household income: $48,544
- Annual cost of living: $30,264
- Livability score: 81
22. Laredo, Texas
- Average home value: $211,755
- Median household income: $63,264
- Annual cost of living: $39,950
- Livability score: 73
21. Corpus Christi, Texas
- Average home value: $217,306
- Median household income: $66,325
- Annual cost of living: $37,289
- Livability score: 80
20. Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Average home value: $286,826
- Median household income: $73,055
- Annual cost of living: $42,844
- Livability score: 81
19. Hampton, Virginia
- Average home value: $264,021
- Median household income: $67,758
- Annual cost of living: $40,518
- Livability score: 74
18. McAllen, Texas
- Average home value: $226,102
- Median household income: $60,165
- Annual cost of living: $36,994
- Livability score: 75
17. Columbus, Ohio
- Average home value: $258,356
- Median household income: $65,327
- Annual cost of living: $40,252
- Livability score: 81
16. Warren, Michigan
- Average home value: $201,006
- Median household income: $63,741
- Annual cost of living: $39,489
- Livability score: 74
15. Tyler, Texas
- Average home value: $246,595
- Median household income: $65,527
- Annual cost of living: $38,727
- Livability score: 74
14. Norman, Oklahoma
- Average home value: $253,737
- Median household income: $65,060
- Annual cost of living: $40,984
- Livability score: 83
13. El Paso, Texas
- Average home value: $224,379
- Median household income: $58,734
- Annual cost of living: $37,645
- Livability score: 81
12. Oklahoma City
- Average home value: $199,376
- Median household income: $66,702
- Annual cost of living: $37,195
- Livability score: 81
11. Odessa, Texas
- Average home value: $236,408
- Median household income: $73,030
- Annual cost of living: $39,029
- Livability score: 74
10. Abilene, Texas
- Average home value: $190,862
- Median household income: $62,720
- Annual cost of living: $35,742
- Livability score: 75
9. Des Moines, Iowa
- Average home value: $201,642
- Median household income: $63,966
- Annual cost of living: $35,644
- Livability score: 83
8. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Average home value: $276,592
- Median household income: $69,991
- Annual cost of living: $43,079
- Livability score: 84
7. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Average home value: $200,998
- Median household income: $67,859
- Annual cost of living: $35,730
- Livability score: 76
6. Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Average home value: $228,419
- Median household income: $60,293
- Annual cost of living: 37,052
- Livability score: 84
5. Aurora, Illinois
- Average home value: $298,740
- Median household income: $90,109
- Annual cost of living: $43,131
- Livability score: 71
4. Independence, Missouri
- Average home value: $194,012
- Median household income: $59,480
- Annual cost of living: $36,723
- Livability score: 82
3. Huntsville, Alabama
- Average home value: $271,957
- Median household income: $70,778
- Annual cost of living: $41,930
- Livability score: 83
2. Joliet, Illinois
- Average home value: $245,605
- Median household income: $88,026
- Annual cost of living: $39,989
- Livability score: 76
1. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Average home value: $274,706
- Median household income: $85,220
- Annual cost of living: $41,945
- Livability score: 78
Travis Woods contributed to the reporting for this piece.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States for the best places you can buy a home for under $300,000. First GOBankingRates found cities where the average home value for single-family homes (November 2023 to November 2024) was under $300,000 and no monthly value was above $300,000. The 100 cities with the highest population were used. For each city, GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, household median income and the population below the poverty line, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The average home values were sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. 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 and the national expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location were calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. The total cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00, the household median income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the percent population below poverty line was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the total score for each location. The locations were sorted to show the best places to buy a house under $300,000. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 30, 2024.