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

Many Americans would be able to afford homes for sale in the South, especially those looking at housing markets in lower cost-of-living cities. However, there are an increasing number of Southern cities where a six-figure income is necessary if you want to buy a typical home for sale. 

The full data can be found in a June 2025 Clever Real Estate study that outlined 50 of America’s largest cities where buyers need to make $100,000 to afford a home. Thirteen of these cities are based in the South. If you wanted to buy a home in Miami, you’d need to earn $188,008 annually — and that’s with a 20% down payment.

Here are 13 Southern cities where you need a six-figure income to afford a home – and you might be surprised by the cities that made the list.

• 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: $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: $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: $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: $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: $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: $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

Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Clever Real Estate and is accurate as of Aug. 6, 2025.