10 cities where you can buy a home with an $85,000 salary or less
In these cities, households earning $85,000 or less can still afford a home — unlike America's expensive coastal metros
Across the U.S., home prices have climbed faster than wages, pushing affordability out of reach for many households — especially in major coastal markets.
However, in select smaller metros median home prices remain low enough that a household earning less than $85,000 can still qualify for a mortgage without straining its finances.
These markets tend to offer more land, modest list prices, and homes that fit within conventional lending standards, making ownership possible for buyers on moderate incomes.
According to Realtor.com, there are specific U.S. metro areas where the required income to buy a typical home stays below $85,000 — a rare bright spot in a market where many places now require incomes north of six figures.
Here are 10 cities where you can buy a home with an $85,000 salary or less.
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Pittsburgh tops Realtor.com’s list with the lowest required income in the country. Here, the typical home listing price means a buyer needs about $65,000 annually to afford a median-priced home — well under the $85,000 mark. This makes Pittsburgh a standout option for households looking to stretch their dollar further in a larger metro.
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Cleveland, Ohio
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Cleveland’s median-home prices remain low enough that a household earning under $70,000 can qualify to buy, according to the report. Its cost structure reflects broader regional trends where the Midwest still offers more attainable homeownership than many coastal markets.
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Detroit, Michigan
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Detroit requires a yearly income of roughly $65,000–$70,000 to purchase a typical home, according to Realtor.com. While some areas are seeing increased interest, the overall price landscape still allows ownership on moderate salaries.
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Buffalo, New York
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According to the report, the income needed in Buffalo to buy a home stays below $85,000 per year, reflecting more modest median listing prices compared with New York’s major urban markets, which remain notoriously pricey.
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St. Louis, Missouri
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St. Louis’s home prices require an income under $85,000 for a typical buyer, according to the data. This makes it one of the few larger metros in the region where moderate incomes can still keep pace with housing costs.
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Birmingham, Alabama
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Birmingham is another metro where typical home prices allow buyers with sub-$85,000 incomes to buy without stretching their budgets beyond lender norms, according to the report.
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Louisville, Kentucky
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Realtor.com’s report notes that Louisville’s median house prices also translate to a required yearly income under $85,000, holding appeal for buyers priced out of bigger Southern or coastal metros.
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Indianapolis, Indiana
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In Indianapolis, economically modest home prices mean a household earning less than $85,000 can qualify for a typical mortgage. This makes it an affordable option among larger Midwestern metros, according to the report.
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma City rounds out the lower-income list, with typical home prices low enough that a modest income keeps ownership within reach compared with national norms, according to the report.
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Memphis, Tennessee
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The data shows that Memphis also fits below the $85,000 threshold, with homes priced so that a buyer on a moderate income can still achieve homeownership. This reflects broader affordability in parts of the South.