The County With the Least Expensive Housing Market in Every State
Ken Lund / Flickr Hawaii: Hawaii County > Median home value: $375,676 > Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,605 > Homes with no phone service access: 2.0% > Vacant housing units: 22.3% of total > Median household income: $56,395…
Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American dream — but for many, realizing that dream is prohibitively expensive.
Today, the typical American home has a price tag of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, according to industry advocacy group the National Realtors Association. While not every budget can accommodate housing expenses that high, affordable real estate is available in nearly every state.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed home value data from NAR as of the third quarter of 2018 for 3,119 counties and county equivalents nationwide to identify the county with the least expensive housing market in every state. Counties in each state were ranked based on median home value. In 34 states, there is at least one county where more than 50% of homes cost less than $100,000. Hawaii and Rhode Island are the only states where no county has a median home value below the national median of $235,000.
Home values are typically a reflection of what area residents can afford, and as a result, the counties on this list tend to be low-income areas. Some even rank as the poorest county in their state. Windham County, Connecticut, is the only county on this list with a higher median annual household income than the national median of $57,652 — and every county on this list has a lower median household income than its home state.
Housing prices in many of the counties on this list are driven down by high regional vacancy rates — indicative of low demand — and lacking public works infrastructure. In the majority of these counties, the share of households that lack access to basic telephone service exceeds the 2.3% national share. In 42 of these counties, the share of vacant homes exceeds the 12.2% national vacancy rate. Homes in these counties are also far more likely than most to be older, built before 1939.
Click here to see the county with the least expensive housing market in each state.
Click here to read our methodology.
Alabama: Lowndes County
> Median home value: $62,908
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $963
> Homes with no phone service access: 5.2%
> Vacant housing units: 16.5% of total
> Median household income: $29,785
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Alaska: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
> Median home value: $83,696
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,080
> Homes with no phone service access: 8.9%
> Vacant housing units: 51.8% of total
> Median household income: $37,819
[entry-topics ids=”176″]
Arizona: Apache County
> Median home value: $51,798
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $943
> Homes with no phone service access: 10.6%
> Vacant housing units: 40.4% of total
> Median household income: $32,360
[entry-topics ids=”24592″]
Arkansas: Monroe County
> Median home value: $56,798
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $817
> Homes with no phone service access: 8.0%
> Vacant housing units: 25.2% of total
> Median household income: $31,584
[entry-topics ids=”50255″]
California: Modoc County
> Median home value: $152,797
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,007
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.3%
> Vacant housing units: 30.7% of total
> Median household income: $39,296
[entry-topics ids=”1337″]
Colorado: Bent County
> Median home value: $86,780
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $898
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.3%
> Vacant housing units: 21.8% of total
> Median household income: $32,500
[entry-topics ids=”180″]
Connecticut: Windham County
> Median home value: $203,646
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,668
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.2%
> Vacant housing units: 10.2% of total
> Median household income: $62,553
[entry-topics ids=”22247″]
Delaware: Kent County
> Median home value: $230,026
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,460
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 8.8% of total
> Median household income: $57,647
[entry-topics ids=”3426″]
Florida: Liberty County
> Median home value: $67,559
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $843
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.5%
> Vacant housing units: 34.0% of total
> Median household income: $36,741
[entry-topics ids=”1657″]
Georgia: Wheeler County
> Median home value: $49,813
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $879
> Homes with no phone service access: 20.0%
> Vacant housing units: 24.7% of total
> Median household income: $28,490
[entry-topics ids=”22721″]
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Median home value: $375,676
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,605
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.0%
> Vacant housing units: 22.3% of total
> Median household income: $56,395
[entry-topics ids=”14042″]
Idaho: Clark County
> Median home value: $108,629
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $884
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.0%
> Vacant housing units: 43.4% of total
> Median household income: $31,927
[entry-topics ids=”59347″]
Illinois: Alexander County
> Median home value: $54,352
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $880
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.4%
> Vacant housing units: 39.0% of total
> Median household income: $31,014
[entry-topics ids=”11106″]
Indiana: Blackford County
> Median home value: $73,628
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $843
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 13.9% of total
> Median household income: $40,622
[entry-topics ids=”35717″]
Iowa: Audubon County
> Median home value: $72,664
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $784
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 10.9% of total
> Median household income: $48,750
[entry-topics ids=”59348″]
Kansas: Elk County
> Median home value: $49,849
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $960
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 33.9% of total
> Median household income: $39,405
[entry-topics ids=”14041″]
Kentucky: Leslie County
> Median home value: $51,550
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $772
> Homes with no phone service access: 6.4%
> Vacant housing units: 19.8% of total
> Median household income: $27,861
[entry-topics ids=”59349″]
Louisiana: Tensas Parish
> Median home value: $64,341
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.9%
> Vacant housing units: 43.2% of total
> Median household income: $21,906
[entry-topics ids=”59350″]
Maine: Aroostook County
> Median home value: $104,510
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $982
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.9%
> Vacant housing units: 25.0% of total
> Median household income: $39,021
[entry-topics ids=”36448″]
Maryland: Allegany County
> Median home value: $113,677
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,060
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.6%
> Vacant housing units: 16.0% of total
> Median household income: $42,771
[entry-topics ids=”28049″]
Massachusetts: Hampden County
> Median home value: $223,466
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,531
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.1%
> Vacant housing units: 7.4% of total
> Median household income: $52,205
[entry-topics ids=”22627″]
Michigan: Ontonagon County
> Median home value: $75,085
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $883
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 48.1% of total
> Median household income: $36,073
[entry-topics ids=”11110″]
Minnesota: Kittson County
> Median home value: $77,339
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,058
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.9%
> Vacant housing units: 27.7% of total
> Median household income: $52,304
[entry-topics ids=”19886″]
Mississippi: Issaquena County
> Median home value: $51,872
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,098
> Homes with no phone service access: 5.5%
> Vacant housing units: 19.4% of total
> Median household income: $25,609
[entry-topics ids=”59351″]
Missouri: Worth County
> Median home value: $63,683
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $904
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.7%
> Vacant housing units: 30.4% of total
> Median household income: $48,214
[entry-topics ids=”28577″]
Montana: Blaine County
> Median home value: $94,014
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,156
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.9%
> Vacant housing units: 18.8% of total
> Median household income: $35,506
[entry-topics ids=”3837″]
Nebraska: Grant County
> Median home value: $58,588
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,102
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 29.0% of total
> Median household income: $45,833
[entry-topics ids=”11091″]
Nevada: Esmeralda County
> Median home value: $83,563
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 0.8%
> Vacant housing units: 50.2% of total
> Median household income: $39,405
[entry-topics ids=”59354″]
New Hampshire: Coos County
> Median home value: $132,002
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,208
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 35.4% of total
> Median household income: $45,386
[entry-topics ids=”22615″]
New Jersey: Cumberland County
> Median home value: $161,596
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,589
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.7%
> Vacant housing units: 10.2% of total
> Median household income: $50,000
[entry-topics ids=”22720″]
New Mexico: De Baca County
> Median home value: $69,412
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $850
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.8%
> Vacant housing units: 41.7% of total
> Median household income: $31,439
[entry-topics ids=”59355″]
New York: Allegany County
> Median home value: $78,265
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $987
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.6%
> Vacant housing units: 31.2% of total
> Median household income: $45,359
[entry-topics ids=”4614″]
North Carolina: Robeson County
> Median home value: $82,505
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $964
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.4%
> Vacant housing units: 12.9% of total
> Median household income: $32,407
[entry-topics ids=”20037″]
North Dakota: Benson County
> Median home value: $70,141
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,003
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.1%
> Vacant housing units: 24.4% of total
> Median household income: $44,500
[entry-topics ids=”15103″]
Ohio: Crawford County
> Median home value: $91,880
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $939
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.2%
> Vacant housing units: 11.2% of total
> Median household income: $41,726
[entry-topics ids=”4458″]
Oklahoma: Harmon County
> Median home value: $50,816
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $659
> Homes with no phone service access: 7.6%
> Vacant housing units: 22.7% of total
> Median household income: $38,264
[entry-topics ids=”6084″]
Oregon: Gilliam County
> Median home value: $121,982
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $989
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.6%
> Vacant housing units: 24.8% of total
> Median household income: $39,831
[entry-topics ids=”59358″]
Pennsylvania: Cameron County
> Median home value: $76,958
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $957
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.0%
> Vacant housing units: 50.4% of total
> Median household income: $40,402
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Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median home value: $250,303
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,730
> Homes with no phone service access: 1.9%
> Vacant housing units: 10.3% of total
> Median household income: $52,530
[entry-topics ids=”9799″]
South Carolina: Allendale County
> Median home value: $55,511
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $791
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.1%
> Vacant housing units: 26.7% of total
> Median household income: $23,331
[entry-topics ids=”11112″]
South Dakota: Todd County
> Median home value: $40,199
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $709
> Homes with no phone service access: 10.1%
> Vacant housing units: 12.2% of total
> Median household income: $26,285
[entry-topics ids=”14040″]
Tennessee: Lake County
> Median home value: $81,761
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $855
> Homes with no phone service access: 4.3%
> Vacant housing units: 17.0% of total
> Median household income: $31,993
[entry-topics ids=”59360″]
Texas: Cochran County
> Median home value: $35,767
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $802
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.0%
> Vacant housing units: 26.4% of total
> Median household income: $37,500
[entry-topics ids=”1575″]
Utah: Carbon County
> Median home value: $142,387
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $987
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.3%
> Vacant housing units: 19.7% of total
> Median household income: $46,994
[entry-topics ids=”59361″]
Vermont: Essex County
> Median home value: $134,687
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,137
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.3%
> Vacant housing units: 46.9% of total
> Median household income: $38,767
[entry-topics ids=”1866″]
Virginia: Buchanan County
> Median home value: $73,552
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $946
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.5%
> Vacant housing units: 22.1% of total
> Median household income: $30,828
[entry-topics ids=”1834″]
Washington: Garfield County
> Median home value: $160,790
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,059
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.2%
> Vacant housing units: 19.7% of total
> Median household income: $51,399
[entry-topics ids=”8439″]
West Virginia: McDowell County
> Median home value: $35,932
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $730
> Homes with no phone service access: 9.8%
> Vacant housing units: 31.4% of total
> Median household income: $25,595
[entry-topics ids=”38858″]
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Median home value: $91,657
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,056
> Homes with no phone service access: 2.6%
> Vacant housing units: 41.9% of total
> Median household income: $38,080
[entry-topics ids=”11108″]
Wyoming: Hot Springs County
> Median home value: $154,348
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,181
> Homes with no phone service access: 3.4%
> Vacant housing units: 13.2% of total
> Median household income: $48,403
[entry-topics ids=”19422″]
Methodology
To determine the county with the least expensive housing market in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median home prices in the 3,119 county and county-equivalents as aggregated by the National Association of Realtors for the third quarter of 2018. We also considered median household incomes, median monthly housing costs for mortgage holders, the share of occupied homes with no access to telephone service, and housing vacancy rates — all five-year estimates from the from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.
