33 Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home

The median household income in the U.S. — $77,719 — is no longer enough to afford a median-priced home. The median home price nationwide is now $438,000, which means you would need a household income of $123,226 to afford to buy a home if you make a 20% down payment.

While there are some major cities where you can afford a typical home earning less than six figures, that has become the exception and not the rule, according to a new Clever Real Estate study. The study found the income needed to afford a home with a 20% down payment in the 50 largest cities, and it turns out you need a household income of at least $100,000 to afford it in 33 of them.

Here’s a look at the major cities where you need a six-figure household income to afford a typical home, ranked by affordability based on the local median income.

Also see cities where home values have increased the most.

• Median household income: $94,289
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $395,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $111,649
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $17,360

• Median household income: $95,102
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $117,547
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,445

• Median household income: $84,332
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $106,909
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,577

• Median household income: $77,006
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $347,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $100,075
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,069

• Median household income: $86,505
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $109,760
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,255

• Median household income: $96,096
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $441,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $120,069
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,973

• Median household income: $81,262
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $409,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $107,912
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $26,650

• Median household income: $87,071
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $118,197
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $31,126

• Median household income: $79,463
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $340,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $115,194
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $35,731

• Median household income: $75,065
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $449,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $113,839
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,774

• Median household income: $77,044
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $115,831
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,787

• Median household income: $85,700
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $458,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $125,174
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $39,474

• Median household income: $121,469
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $161,911
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,442

• Median household income: $98,508
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $450,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $139,062
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,554

• Median household income: $71,140
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $418,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $112,172
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $41,032

• Median household income: $84,685
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $470,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $126,705
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,020

• Median household income: $94,409
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $530,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $136,876
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,467

• Median household income: $72,743
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $116,256
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $43,513

• Median household income: $77,378
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $408,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $128,233
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $50,855

• Median household income: $86,860
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $425,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $138,791
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $51,931

• Median household income: $94,925
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $559,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $147,663
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $52,738

• Median household income: $83,330
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $485,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $142,700
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $59,370

• Median household income: $94,992
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $159,312
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $64,320

• Median household income: $103,055
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $168,958
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $65,903

• Median household income: $87,843
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $596,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $160,783
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $72,940

• Median household income: $110,697
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $750,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $215,387
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $104,690

• Median household income: $76,271
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $188,008
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $111,737

• Median household income: $110,744
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $850,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $230,379
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $119,635

• Median household income: $95,220
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $765,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $233,455
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $138,235

• Median household income: $103,674
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $920,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $246,134
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $142,460

• Median household income: $91,960
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $905,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $241,149
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $149,189

• Median household income: $127,792
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,550,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $415,871
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $288,079

• Median household income: $153,202
• Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,700,000
• Income needed with 20% down: $458,297
• Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $305,095

Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Clever Real Estate and is accurate as of May 19, 2025.