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. Not every budget can accommodate housing expenses that high, and in nearly every state there is at least one county where the housing market is even more expensive.
To identify the county with the most expensive housing market in 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. Counties in each state were ranked based on median home value. In 33 states, there is at least one county where over 50% of occupied homes cost more than $300,000. Arkansas and Oklahoma are the only states where no county has a median home value above $200,000.
Home values are typically a reflection of what the residents can afford, and as a result, the counties on this list tend to be high-income areas. Some even rank as the richest county in their state. Coconino County, Arizona, and Orleans Parish, Louisiana, are the only counties or county equivalents on this list with a lower median annual household income than the national median of $57,652.
The years in which many of the houses were built in the counties on this list may partially explain the higher housing costs. According to recent Census data, the median value of a brand new home is $335,400 — 39.5% more than the value of the typical existing home. In 34 of the 50 counties on this list, the share of homes built in the 21st century exceeds the comparable statewide share. In three counties on this list — Dallas County, Iowa; Forsyth County, Georgia; and Lincoln County, South Dakota — over half of all homes were built after Jan. 1, 2000. For reference, only 17.7% of all homes nationwide were built in the last 19 years.
Click here to see the county with the most expensive housing market in each state.
To determine the county with the most expensive housing market in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median home prices of owner-occupied homes 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 worth over $1.0 million, and year of construction — all five-year estimates from the from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Alabama: Shelby County
> Median home value: $221,847
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,413
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.9%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 33.9%
> Median household income: $74,063
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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Source: BigRedCurlyGuy / Getty Images
Alaska: Sitka City and Borough
> Median home value: $364,381
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,096
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 11.9%
> Median household income: $70,765
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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Source: kenlund / Flickr
Arizona: Coconino County
> Median home value: $297,468
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,490
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 24.0%
> Median household income: $53,523
See all stories featuring: Arizona
Source: Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas: Benton County
> Median home value: $193,647
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,218
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 34.2%
> Median household income: $61,271
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
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Source: stellalevi / Getty Images
California: San Francisco County
> Median home value: $1,272,168
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $3,332
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 42.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 8.6%
> Median household income: $96,265
See all stories featuring: California
Source: Daniel Case / Wikimedia Commons
Colorado: Pitkin County
> Median home value: $662,964
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,947
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 32.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 24.8%
> Median household income: $67,755
See all stories featuring: Colorado
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Median home value: $435,477
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,726
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 14.6%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 9.4%
> Median household income: $89,773
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons
Delaware: New Castle County
> Median home value: $276,686
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,611
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.9%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 13.6%
> Median household income: $68,336
See all stories featuring: Delaware
Source: Maisna / Getty Images
Florida: Monroe County
> Median home value: $556,173
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,373
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 11.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 13.1%
> Median household income: $63,030
See all stories featuring: Florida
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Source: rodclementphotography / Getty Images
Georgia: Forsyth County
> Median home value: $391,587
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,813
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.1%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 51.4%
> Median household income: $96,445
See all stories featuring: Georgia
Source: volvob12b / Flickr
Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median home value: $709,056
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,466
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 14%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 14.1%
> Median household income: $80,078
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
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Idaho: Blaine County
> Median home value: $429,565
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,676
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 17.7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 19.4%
> Median household income: $58,835
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Illinois: DuPage County
> Median home value: $324,941
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,051
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.9%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 10.0%
> Median household income: $84,442
See all stories featuring: Illinois
Source: carmelindiana / Flickr
Indiana: Hamilton County
> Median home value: $292,191
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,584
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.5%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 40.8%
> Median household income: $90,582
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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Source: Iowahwyman / Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: Dallas County
> Median home value: $258,355
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,558
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.5%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 50.5%
> Median household income: $82,719
See all stories featuring: Iowa
Source: Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA / Wikimedia Commons
Kansas: Johnson County
> Median home value: $280,489
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,703
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.5%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 21.7%
> Median household income: $81,121
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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Source: wanderluster / Getty Images
Kentucky: Oldham County
> Median home value: $308,928
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,659
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 29.8%
> Median household income: $92,237
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
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Source: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: Orleans Parish
> Median home value: $237,027
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,653
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 3%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 10.4%
> Median household income: $38,721
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Maine: Cumberland County
> Median home value: $294,008
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,697
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.6%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 14.6%
> Median household income: $65,702
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Source: Aude / Wikimedia Commons
Maryland: Montgomery County
> Median home value: $507,032
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,460
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 9.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 14.2%
> Median household income: $103,178
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Median home value: $1,046,929
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,783
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 49.7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 18.6%
> Median household income: $91,942
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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Michigan: Washtenaw County
> Median home value: $285,608
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,705
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 15.7%
> Median household income: $65,618
See all stories featuring: Michigan
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Source: AlexiusHoratius / Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota: Carver County
> Median home value: $344,435
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,931
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 33.7%
> Median household income: $93,095
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
Source: capcase / Flickr
Mississippi: Madison County
> Median home value: $235,722
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,494
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 33.5%
> Median household income: $68,600
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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Source: VoyagerMU / Wikimedia Commons
Missouri: Platte County
> Median home value: $240,702
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,583
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 25.4%
> Median household income: $74,199
See all stories featuring: Missouri
Source: DianeBentleyRaymond / Getty Images
Montana: Gallatin County
> Median home value: $377,592
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,646
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 4.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 35.1%
> Median household income: $59,397
See all stories featuring: Montana
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Source: Atomic Energy505 / Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Sarpy County
> Median home value: $212,509
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,538
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 33.3%
> Median household income: $75,752
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
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Nevada: Washoe County
> Median home value: $379,957
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,533
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 25.7%
> Median household income: $58,595
See all stories featuring: Nevada
Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Median home value: $352,626
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,131
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.6%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 15.5%
> Median household income: $85,619
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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New Jersey: Bergen County
> Median home value: $498,038
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,956
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 7.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 7.8%
> Median household income: $91,572
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
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New Mexico: Santa Fe County
> Median home value: $318,544
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,535
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 4.6%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 22.5%
> Median household income: $57,945
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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New York: New York County
> Median home value: $1,033,669
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $3,112
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 45.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 8.9%
> Median household income: $79,781
See all stories featuring: New York
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North Carolina: Orange County
> Median home value: $308,107
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,781
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.3%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 21.2%
> Median household income: $65,522
See all stories featuring: North Carolina
Source: afiler / Flickr
North Dakota: Burleigh County
> Median home value: $269,916
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,493
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 28.5%
> Median household income: $67,308
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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Source: Indrian / Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 3.0
Ohio: Delaware County
> Median home value: $329,070
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,990
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 40.5%
> Median household income: $100,229
See all stories featuring: Ohio
Source: Kristi Ellis / Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma: Canadian County
> Median home value: $174,308
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,370
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 34.4%
> Median household income: $69,220
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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Oregon: Clackamas County
> Median home value: $436,075
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,857
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 3.3%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 18.2%
> Median household income: $72,408
See all stories featuring: Oregon
Source: Hshuvaeva / Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Median home value: $384,436
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,216
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.9%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 18.6%
> Median household income: $92,417
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
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Rhode Island: Newport County
> Median home value: $422,705
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,120
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 7%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 10.1%
> Median household income: $75,463
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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Source: Daniel Mayer / Wikimedia Commons
South Carolina: Charleston County
> Median home value: $353,561
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,646
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 5.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 25.2%
> Median household income: $57,882
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
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South Dakota: Lincoln County
> Median home value: $226,497
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,492
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 54.3%
> Median household income: $81,849
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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Tennessee: Williamson County
> Median home value: $501,967
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,045
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 4.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 39.6%
> Median household income: $103,543
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
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Source: Geeklet42 / Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Collin County
> Median home value: $354,363
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,979
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.2%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 40.6%
> Median household income: $90,124
See all stories featuring: Texas
Source: zaffi / Flickr
Utah: Summit County
> Median home value: $628,648
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,199
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 19.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 28.0%
> Median household income: $94,952
See all stories featuring: Utah
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Source: Mfwills / Wikimedia Commons
Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median home value: $309,038
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,801
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 1.3%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 16.8%
> Median household income: $66,906
See all stories featuring: Vermont
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Virginia: Falls Church City
> Median home value: $787,396
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $3,025
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 18.9%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 19.6%
> Median household income: $114,795
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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Source: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons
Washington: King County
> Median home value: $636,990
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,271
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 8.4%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 18.9%
> Median household income: $83,571
See all stories featuring: Washington
Source: dougtone / Flickr
West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Median home value: $241,206
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,571
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 0.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 29.0%
> Median household income: $72,526
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Source: Jen Keller / Flickr
Wisconsin: Ozaukee County
> Median home value: $311,909
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $1,762
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 2.3%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 14.9%
> Median household income: $80,526
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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Source: Riderolga / Getty Images
Wyoming: Teton County
> Median home value: $772,365
> Median monthly housing costs w/ mortgage: $2,207
> Homes valued at $1 mil.+ (2017): 31.8%
> Housing units built in 2000 or later: 23.0%
> Median household income: $80,049
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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