12 East Coast Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home

A six-figure income is all but becoming a requirement if you want to buy a home in a major metropolitan area. This is especially true if you’re looking to spend money to live on the East Coast. 

A June 2025 study from Clever Real Estate revealed in 33 out of 50 of America’s largest cities buyers need to earn $100,000 to afford a home. Of these 33 cities, 12 are in the East Coast region.

Keep reading to find out which 12 East Coast cities you need to make $100,000 annually to buy a home in after the 20% down payment.

• 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: $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: $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: $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: $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: $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: $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: $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

Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Clever Real Estate and is accurate as of Aug. 5, 2025.