Cheapest Places To Buy a Home in Every State

The U.S. housing market is hot — very hot, according to Zillow. The median list price of homes is currently $289,000, nearly $100,000 higher than the median list price five years ago.

Despite rising prices, home sales are up. Existing home sales in August were up 2.6% over last year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And homes are selling fast. In August, houses stayed on the market for just 31 days, and nearly half of homes sold in August sold in less than a month, according to NAR.

That’s good news for sellers, but not for buyers. In fact, if you’re in the market for a house, you might be wondering whether you can find what you want in a price range that you can afford. Fortunately, there are deals out there — if you know where to find them.

To make the search easier, GOBankingRates looked at home prices in cities with a population of at least 30,000 (10,000 in states with smaller populations). Using Zillow’s 2019 median list price data, GOBankingRates identified between three to five of the cheapest places to buy a home in each state.

Median list price was the only factor used in this study. GOBankingRates did not evaluate other factors such as crime rates, school quality or livability. As a result, there are cities on the list where home prices are low because of issues that might make them less desirable places to live.

There also are a few states where some or all of the cheapest cities to buy a home have median home list prices that top the national median. Even though the prices might not seem like a deal, they still are lower than the median list prices in other cities throughout the respective state.

That said, the majority of cities on this list have homes that are real bargains. Keep reading to find out which cities have cheap homes — and where you can buy a house for less than $100,000.

Last updated: Oct. 11, 2019

Alabama

• Gadsden
  • 2019 median list price: $105,150

• Phenix City
  • 2019 median list price: $140,715

• Montgomery
  • 2019 median list price: $149,119

• Florence
  • 2019 median list price: $160,562

• Mobile
  • 2019 median list price: $163,048

Alaska

• Fairbanks
  • 2019 median list price: $215,769

• Anchorage
  • 2019 median list price: $321,594

• Juneau
  • 2019 median list price: $371,104

Arizona

• Sun City
  • 2019 median list price: $189,343

• Sierra Vista
  • 2019 median list price: $205,022

• Casa Grande
  • 2019 median list price: $207,090

• El Mirage
  • 2019 median list price: $208,169

• Yuma
  • 2019 median list price: $217,119

Arkansas

• Pine Bluff
  • 2019 median list price: $79,794

• North Little Rock
  • 2019 median list price: $132,421

• Fort Smith
  • 2019 median list price: $159,319

• Texarkana
  • 2019 median list price: $166,364

• Sherwood
  • 2019 median list price: $176,344

California

• Oildale
  • 2019 median list price: $170,156

• Adelanto
  • 2019 median list price: $233,378

• Delano
  • 2019 median list price: $239,509

• Calexico
  • 2019 median list price: $244,134

• El Centro
  • 2019 median list price: $256,312

Colorado

• Pueblo
  • 2019 median list price: $222,025

• Security-Widefield
  • 2019 median list price: $270,225

• Grand Junction
  • 2019 median list price: $280,925

• Greeley
  • 2019 median list price: $317,550

• Colorado Springs
  • 2019 median list price: $334,825

Connecticut

• Waterbury
  • 2019 median list price: $130,406

• Torrington
  • 2019 median list price: $144,762

• Hartford
  • 2019 median list price: $148,663

• Norwich
  • 2019 median list price: $151,794

• New Britain
  • 2019 median list price: $158,006

Delaware

• Wilmington
  • 2019 median list price: $190,844

• Dover
  • 2019 median list price: $194,091

• Milford
  • 2019 median list price: $247,857

• Newark
  • 2019 median list price: $249,737

• Smyrna
  • 2019 median list price: $279,929

Florida

• Lauderdale Lakes
  • 2019 median list price: $87,137

• Lauderhill
  • 2019 median list price: $110,438

• Daytona Beach
  • 2019 median list price: $160,025

• Pine Hills
  • 2019 median list price: $166,502

• Lehigh Acres
  • 2019 median list price: $180,223

Georgia

• Albany
  • 2019 median list price: $88,863

• Columbus
  • 2019 median list price: $112,931

• Augusta
  • 2019 median list price: $127,131

• Macon
  • 2019 median list price: $138,459

• Hinesville
  • 2019 median list price: $141,780

Hawaii

• Hilo
  • 2019 median list price: $384,313

• Waipahu
  • 2019 median list price: $544,550

• Honolulu
  • 2019 median list price: $639,438

• Kahului
  • 2019 median list price: $686,188

• Kaneohe
  • 2019 median list price: $727,442

Idaho

• Pocatello
  • 2019 median list price: $190,750

• Twin Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $233,725

• Lewiston
  • 2019 median list price: $239,361

• Caldwell
  • 2019 median list price: $244,503

• Idaho Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $255,331

Illinois

• Danville
  • 2019 median list price: $81,194

• Galesburg
  • 2019 median list price: $87,520

• Chicago Heights
  • 2019 median list price: $92,741

• Calumet City
  • 2019 median list price: $93,702

• Pekin
  • 2019 median list price: $94,728

Indiana

• Gary
  • 2019 median list price: $42,414

• Anderson
  • 2019 median list price: $72,131

• Richmond
  • 2019 median list price: $83,105

• Muncie
  • 2019 median list price: $85,949

• Hammond
  • 2019 median list price: $104,338

Iowa

• Waterloo
  • 2019 median list price: $115,928

• Sioux City
  • 2019 median list price: $142,863

• Des Moines
  • 2019 median list price: $145,544

• Davenport
  • 2019 median list price: $147,363

• Council Bluffs
  • 2019 median list price: $156,613

Kansas

• Hutchinson
  • 2019 median list price: $107,363

• Topeka
  • 2019 median list price: $126,300

• Kansas City
  • 2019 median list price: $128,020

• Salina
  • 2019 median list price: $150,481

• Wichita
  • 2019 median list price: $169,831

Kentucky

• Covington
  • 2019 median list price: $131,369

• Hopkinsville
  • 2019 median list price: $148,731

• Richmond
  • 2019 median list price: $186,300

• Florence
  • 2019 median list price: $188,888

• Owensboro
  • 2019 median list price: $199,513

Louisiana

• New Iberia
  • 2019 median list price: $143,985

• Marrero
  • 2019 median list price: $155,883

• Shreveport
  • 2019 median list price: $166,338

• Alexandria
  • 2019 median list price: $181,194

• Houma
  • 2019 median list price: $181,525

Maine

• Waterville
  • 2019 median list price: $136,490

• Lewiston
  • 2019 median list price: $158,888

• Augusta
  • 2019 median list price: $162,483

• Bangor
  • 2019 median list price: $177,254

• Sanford
  • 2019 median list price: $209,056

Maryland

• Hagerstown
  • 2019 median list price: $146,866

• Dundalk
  • 2019 median list price: $150,696

• Baltimore
  • 2019 median list price: $161,698

• Salisbury
  • 2019 median list price: $186,450

• Parkville
  • 2019 median list price: $212,450

Massachusetts

• Springfield
  • 2019 median list price: $162,101

• Chicopee
  • 2019 median list price: $183,268

• Pittsfield
  • 2019 median list price: $192,863

• Holyoke
  • 2019 median list price: $197,256

• Fitchburg
  • 2019 median list price: $228,431

Michigan

• Flint
  • 2019 median list price: $46,125

• Bay City
  • 2019 median list price: $64,656

• Pontiac
  • 2019 median list price: $73,594

• Saginaw
  • 2019 median list price: $87,580

• Lincoln Park
  • 2019 median list price: $89,242

Minnesota

• Saint Cloud
  • 2019 median list price: $182,206

• Duluth
  • 2019 median list price: $212,069

• Brooklyn Center
  • 2019 median list price: $213,513

• Moorhead
  • 2019 median list price: $226,600

• Saint Paul
  • 2019 median list price: $232,844

Mississippi

• Greenville
  • 2019 median list price: $111,385

• Jackson
  • 2019 median list price: $126,344

• Meridian
  • 2019 median list price: $139,631

• Gulfport
  • 2019 median list price: $172,838

• Tupelo
  • 2019 median list price: $189,044

Missouri

• Saint Joseph
  • 2019 median list price: $107,806

• Florissant
  • 2019 median list price: $107,950

• Independence
  • 2019 median list price: $129,978

• Cape Girardeau
  • 2019 median list price: $146,725

• Springfield
  • 2019 median list price: $156,288

Montana

• Butte
  • 2019 median list price: $167,338

• Great Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $209,638

• Billings
  • 2019 median list price: $252,463

• Helena
  • 2019 median list price: $296,146

• Missoula
  • 2019 median list price: $352,738

Nebraska

• Grand Island
  • 2019 median list price: $178,944

• Kearney
  • 2019 median list price: $225,163

• Bellevue
  • 2019 median list price: $226,896

• Omaha
  • 2019 median list price: $236,590

• Lincoln
  • 2019 median list price: $257,613

Nevada

• Pahrump
  • 2019 median list price: $236,347

• North Las Vegas
  • 2019 median list price: $278,985

• Las Vegas
  • 2019 median list price: $300,412

• Henderson
  • 2019 median list price: $368,601

• Carson City
  • 2019 median list price: $374,181

New Hampshire

• Rochester
  • 2019 median list price: $238,700

• Manchester
  • 2019 median list price: $247,212

• Concord
  • 2019 median list price: $265,481

• Nashua
  • 2019 median list price: $295,425

• Dover
  • 2019 median list price: $355,519

New Jersey

• Camden
  • 2019 median list price: $63,420

• Trenton
  • 2019 median list price: $75,855

• Atlantic City
  • 2019 median list price: $129,706

• Vineland
  • 2019 median list price: $154,500

• East Orange
  • 2019 median list price: $215,153

New Mexico

• South Valley
  • 2019 median list price: $165,475

• Alamogordo
  • 2019 median list price: $166,331

• Roswell
  • 2019 median list price: $172,750

• Clovis
  • 2019 median list price: $179,613

• Las Cruces
  • 2019 median list price: $202,202

New York

• Jamestown
  • 2019 median list price: $56,762

• Niagara Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $69,166

• Rochester
  • 2019 median list price: $83,538

• Syracuse
  • 2019 median list price: $91,094

• Rome
  • 2019 median list price: $92,213

North Carolina

• Rocky Mount
  • 2019 median list price: $117,792

• Wilson
  • 2019 median list price: $155,449

• Fayetteville
  • 2019 median list price: $157,063

• High Point
  • 2019 median list price: $161,081

• Goldsboro
  • 2019 median list price: $167,219

North Dakota

• Minot
  • 2019 median list price: $212,144

• Grand Forks
  • 2019 median list price: $238,225

• West Fargo
  • 2019 median list price: $247,412

• Fargo
  • 2019 median list price: $257,256

• Bismarck
  • 2019 median list price: $277,862

Ohio

• Youngstown
  • 2019 median list price: $40,629

• Warren
  • 2019 median list price: $51,675

• Dayton
  • 2019 median list price: $67,494

• Marion
  • 2019 median list price: $71,112

• Akron
  • 2019 median list price: $74,400

Oklahoma

• Muskogee
  • 2019 median list price: $94,406

• Lawton
  • 2019 median list price: $100,999

• Bartlesville
  • 2019 median list price: $129,366

• Shawnee
  • 2019 median list price: $142,650

• Midwest City
  • 2019 median list price: $154,089

Oregon

• Springfield
  • 2019 median list price: $277,081

• Albany
  • 2019 median list price: $311,263

• Salem
  • 2019 median list price: $313,986

• Keizer
  • 2019 median list price: $324,797

• Medford
  • 2019 median list price: $325,069

Pennsylvania

• Chester
  • 2019 median list price: $49,388

• York
  • 2019 median list price: $61,293

• Harrisburg
  • 2019 median list price: $65,191

• Wilkes-Barre
  • 2019 median list price: $66,831

• Reading
  • 2019 median list price: $73,414

Rhode Island

• Woonsocket
  • 2019 median list price: $206,638

• Pawtucket
  • 2019 median list price: $220,837

• Providence
  • 2019 median list price: $235,200

• Warwick
  • 2019 median list price: $246,713

• East Providence
  • 2019 median list price: $260,219

South Carolina

• Spartanburg
  • 2019 median list price: $164,523

• Sumter
  • 2019 median list price: $177,750

• Columbia
  • 2019 median list price: $187,274

• Myrtle Beach
  • 2019 median list price: $193,950

• North Charleston
  • 2019 median list price: $210,049

South Dakota

• Huron
  • 2019 median list price: $153,119

• Aberdeen
  • 2019 median list price: $180,675

• Yankton
  • 2019 median list price: $197,175

• Pierre
  • 2019 median list price: $230,375

• Sioux Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $231,925

Tennessee

• Memphis
  • 2019 median list price: $105,587

• Jackson
  • 2019 median list price: $152,650

• Kingsport
  • 2019 median list price: $170,938

• Johnson City
  • 2019 median list price: $197,678

• La Vergne
  • 2019 median list price: $205,583

Texas

• Wichita Falls
  • 2019 median list price: $139,856

• Socorro
  • 2019 median list price: $141,441

• Brownsville
  • 2019 median list price: $149,935

• San Juan
  • 2019 median list price: $150,800

• Weslaco
  • 2019 median list price: $152,034

Utah

• Ogden
  • 2019 median list price: $228,481

• Cedar City
  • 2019 median list price: $243,724

• Logan
  • 2019 median list price: $250,478

• Clearfield
  • 2019 median list price: $254,911

• Roy
  • 2019 median list price: $263,081

Vermont

• Rutland
  • 2019 median list price: $176,906

• Burlington
  • 2019 median list price: $355,856

• South Burlington
  • 2019 median list price: $404,564

Virginia

• Danville
  • 2019 median list price: $125,563

• Petersburg
  • 2019 median list price: $142,175

• Portsmouth
  • 2019 median list price: $163,738

• Lynchburg
  • 2019 median list price: $181,906

• Hampton
  • 2019 median list price: $183,798

Washington

• Spokane
  • 2019 median list price: $257,719

• Longview
  • 2019 median list price: $259,847

• Spokane Valley
  • 2019 median list price: $261,213

• Yakima
  • 2019 median list price: $269,256

• Parkland
  • 2019 median list price: $284,353

West Virginia

• Clarksburg
  • 2019 median list price: $91,112

• Bluefield
  • 2019 median list price: $95,016

• Weirton
  • 2019 median list price: $95,069

• Saint Albans
  • 2019 median list price: $107,297

• Huntington
  • 2019 median list price: $111,550

Wisconsin

• Fond du Lac
  • 2019 median list price: $116,938

• Beloit
  • 2019 median list price: $120,688

• Oshkosh
  • 2019 median list price: $126,563

• Manitowoc
  • 2019 median list price: $128,381

• Milwaukee
  • 2019 median list price: $130,175

Wyoming

• Riverton
  • 2019 median list price: $182,625

• Evanston
  • 2019 median list price: $183,438

• Green River
  • 2019 median list price: $222,538

• Casper
  • 2019 median list price: $224,538

• Rock Springs
  • 2019 median list price: $227,154

More From GOBankingRates

• How Much Home You Can Buy for $300,000 in Every State
• 28 House-Flipping Rules You Should Never Break
• Best IRA Providers of 2019-2020
• Best Robo-Advisors of 2019-2020

Methodology: To find the cheapest places to buy a home in every state, GOBankingRates looked at every city with a population over 30,000 (10,000 in Arkansas, Delaware, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming), as sourced from the 2017 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau. Once these cities were gathered for each state, GOBankingRates took the average 2019 median list price for each city, as sourced from Zillow, and included the top three to five cities (depending on state size) with the lowest average 2019 median list price. Livability scores sourced from AreaVibes, as well as median household income, percentage of housing units vacant, 20- to 64-year-old unemployment rate and the percentage of people below the poverty line were included as supplemental data. All data was collected and up to date as of Sept. 25, 2019.

About the Author

Cameron Huddleston

Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years of experience writing about personal finance. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Fortune, MSN, USA Today and many more print and online publications. She also is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.

U.S. News & World Report named her one of the top personal finance experts to follow on Twitter, and AOL Daily Finance named her one of the top 20 personal finance influencers to follow on Twitter. She has appeared on CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and “Fox & Friends” and has been a guest on ABC News Radio, Wall Street Journal Radio, NPR, WTOP in Washington, D.C., KGO in San Francisco and other personal finance radio shows nationwide. She also has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch and more.

She has an MA in economic journalism from American University and BA in journalism and Russian studies from Washington & Lee University.

Read More