The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented surge in demand for homes in the United States. Inventory of homes for sale hit a record low, as did the average time homes are on the market. Meanwhile, both home prices and the share of homes selling above asking price reached record highs.
Of course, in some parts of the country, exorbitant home prices are nothing new. Even before the pandemic, the majority of states had at least one county where the value of most homes exceeded a quarter million dollars.
Using data on median home value from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most expensive county to buy a home in every state. We included counties, county equivalents, and independent cities in our analysis. The prices listed here are for 2019, the most recent year of available data from the Census Bureau.
It is important to note that while every county on this list has expensive homes relative to the rest of the state, not all counties have expensive homes relative to the U.S. as a whole.In states where median home values are generally low, even the most expensive county can be relatively inexpensive in comparison to the nation. Four states on this list — Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma — do not have a county where the median home value is above the $217,500 national median. Here is a look at how much home you can buy for $200,000 in every state.
Home values in a given area are often a reflection of what residents can afford. And not surprisingly, the vast majority of the counties on this list have a median household income that exceeds the median across the state as a whole. Here is a look at the richest town in every state.
Click here to see the most expensive county to buy a home in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Source: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons
Alabama: Shelby County
> Median home value: $211,900 (Alabama: $142,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,443 (Alabama: $1,186)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.4% (Alabama: 56.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 80.5% (Alabama: 68.8%)
> Median household income: $77,799 (Alabama: $50,536)
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Source: filo / E+ via Getty Images
Alaska: Sitka City and Borough
> Median home value: $358,600 (Alaska: $270,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,129 (Alaska: $1,933)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 51.4% (Alaska: 62.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 59.3% (Alaska: 64.3%)
> Median household income: $73,682 (Alaska: $77,640)
Source: frankix / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Coconino County
> Median home value: $280,900 (Arizona: $225,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,626 (Arizona: $1,434)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 53.3% (Arizona: 63.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 61.0% (Arizona: 64.4%)
> Median household income: $59,460 (Arizona: $58,945)
Source: Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas: Benton County
> Median home value: $183,400 (Arkansas: $127,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,295 (Arkansas: $1,089)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 68.0% (Arkansas: 54.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 66.6% (Arkansas: 65.6%)
> Median household income: $66,362 (Arkansas: $47,597)
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Source: Nicolas McComber / Getty Images
California: San Francisco County
> Median home value: $1,097,800 (California: $505,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $3,647 (California: $2,357)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 66.0% (California: 70.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 37.6% (California: 54.8%)
> Median household income: $112,449 (California: $75,235)
Source: kanonsky / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Pitkin County
> Median home value: $615,900 (Colorado: $343,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,996 (Colorado: $1,744)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.6% (Colorado: 71.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (Colorado: 65.2%)
> Median household income: $78,935 (Colorado: $72,331)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Median home value: $428,500 (Connecticut: $275,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,815 (Connecticut: $2,119)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.8% (Connecticut: 67.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.1% (Connecticut: 66.1%)
> Median household income: $95,645 (Connecticut: $78,444)
Source: Robert Kirk / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: New Castle County
> Median home value: $260,800 (Delaware: $251,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,670 (Delaware: $1,587)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.0% (Delaware: 65.0%)
> Homeownership rate: 67.9% (Delaware: 71.2%)
> Median household income: $73,892 (Delaware: $68,287)
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Monroe County
> Median home value: $494,100 (Florida: $215,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,651 (Florida: $1,503)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 47.0% (Florida: 56.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 59.5% (Florida: 65.4%)
> Median household income: $70,033 (Florida: $55,660)
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Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Georgia: Forsyth County
> Median home value: $339,700 (Georgia: $176,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,960 (Georgia: $1,417)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 77.5% (Georgia: 65.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 84.0% (Georgia: 63.3%)
> Median household income: $107,218 (Georgia: $58,700)
Source: segawa7 / Getty Images
Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median home value: $678,200 (Hawaii: $615,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,607 (Hawaii: $2,418)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 67.1% (Hawaii: 65.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 56.2% (Hawaii: 58.9%)
> Median household income: $85,857 (Hawaii: $81,275)
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Source: shanecotee / Getty Images
Idaho: Blaine County
> Median home value: $428,900 (Idaho: $212,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,650 (Idaho: $1,270)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.2% (Idaho: 64.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.1% (Idaho: 70.0%)
> Median household income: $56,694 (Idaho: $55,785)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Illinois: DuPage County
> Median home value: $308,500 (Illinois: $194,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,144 (Illinois: $1,693)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 67.3% (Illinois: 63.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 73.4% (Illinois: 66.1%)
> Median household income: $92,809 (Illinois: $65,886)
Source: Jose A Perez / Getty Images
Indiana: Hamilton County
> Median home value: $263,300 (Indiana: $141,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,684 (Indiana: $1,148)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 78.4% (Indiana: 65.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 76.9% (Indiana: 69.1%)
> Median household income: $98,173 (Indiana: $56,303)
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Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr
Iowa: Dallas County
> Median home value: $248,100 (Iowa: $147,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,701 (Iowa: $1,260)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 73.8% (Iowa: 60.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 73.7% (Iowa: 71.1%)
> Median household income: $88,479 (Iowa: $60,523)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Johnson County
> Median home value: $259,600 (Kansas: $151,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,799 (Kansas: $1,378)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 70.9% (Kansas: 59.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 69.2% (Kansas: 66.3%)
> Median household income: $89,087 (Kansas: $59,597)
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Source: bill_alden / Flickr
Kentucky: Oldham County
> Median home value: $282,100 (Kentucky: $141,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,798 (Kentucky: $1,178)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 71.1% (Kentucky: 57.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 84.7% (Kentucky: 67.2%)
> Median household income: $99,128 (Kentucky: $50,589)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Louisiana: Orleans Parish
> Median home value: $231,500 (Louisiana: $163,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,714 (Louisiana: $1,295)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 55.4% (Louisiana: 52.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 48.3% (Louisiana: 65.6%)
> Median household income: $41,604 (Louisiana: $49,469)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Maine: Cumberland County
> Median home value: $278,100 (Maine: $190,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,740 (Maine: $1,398)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 68.9% (Maine: 61.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 69.3% (Maine: 72.3%)
> Median household income: $73,072 (Maine: $57,918)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Montgomery County
> Median home value: $484,900 (Maryland: $314,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,566 (Maryland: $2,017)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 73.2% (Maryland: 72.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.4% (Maryland: 66.9%)
> Median household income: $108,820 (Maryland: $84,805)
Source: OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Median home value: $1,084,700 (Massachusetts: $381,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $3,316 (Massachusetts: $2,225)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 67.2% (Massachusetts: 69.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 70.5% (Massachusetts: 62.4%)
> Median household income: $107,717 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
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Source: simplycmb / Getty Images
Michigan: Leelanau County
> Median home value: $268,400 (Michigan: $154,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,406 (Michigan: $1,298)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 57.2% (Michigan: 60.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 88.3% (Michigan: 71.2%)
> Median household income: $65,249 (Michigan: $57,144)
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Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota: Carver County
> Median home value: $313,200 (Minnesota: $223,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,015 (Minnesota: $1,580)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 76.1% (Minnesota: 66.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 81.9% (Minnesota: 71.6%)
> Median household income: $101,496 (Minnesota: $71,306)
Source: Bill Herndon / Flickr
Mississippi: Madison County
> Median home value: $219,700 (Mississippi: $119,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,492 (Mississippi: $1,147)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.1% (Mississippi: 49.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 71.7% (Mississippi: 68.2%)
> Median household income: $71,824 (Mississippi: $45,081)
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Source: VoyagerMU / Wikimedia Commons
Missouri: Platte County
> Median home value: $226,500 (Missouri: $157,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,650 (Missouri: $1,277)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 71.2% (Missouri: 61.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 65.9% (Missouri: 66.8%)
> Median household income: $80,393 (Missouri: $55,461)
Source: anniam / Getty Images
Montana: Gallatin County
> Median home value: $357,100 (Montana: $230,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,762 (Montana: $1,429)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 65.1% (Montana: 56.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 61.2% (Montana: 68.1%)
> Median household income: $66,397 (Montana: $54,970)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Washington County
> Median home value: $196,100 (Nebraska: $155,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,557 (Nebraska: $1,386)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 61.4% (Nebraska: 60.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 78.3% (Nebraska: 66.1%)
> Median household income: $71,430 (Nebraska: $61,439)
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Source: johnrandallalves / Getty Images
Nevada: Douglas County
> Median home value: $378,800 (Nevada: $267,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,758 (Nevada: $1,524)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.1% (Nevada: 68.0%)
> Homeownership rate: 71.4% (Nevada: 56.3%)
> Median household income: $66,810 (Nevada: $60,365)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Median home value: $326,300 (New Hampshire: $261,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,210 (New Hampshire: $1,948)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 70.0% (New Hampshire: 65.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 77.7% (New Hampshire: 71.1%)
> Median household income: $93,756 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
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Source: andykazie / Getty Images
New Jersey: Bergen County
> Median home value: $469,500 (New Jersey: $335,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $3,061 (New Jersey: $2,465)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 64.8% (New Jersey: 66.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 64.8% (New Jersey: 63.9%)
> Median household income: $101,144 (New Jersey: $82,545)
Source: MonaMakela / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Los Alamos County
> Median home value: $302,800 (New Mexico: $171,400)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,860 (New Mexico: $1,280)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 62.4% (New Mexico: 54.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 74.1% (New Mexico: 67.7%)
> Median household income: $121,324 (New Mexico: $49,754)
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Source: gregobagel / Getty Images
New York: New York County
> Median home value: $987,700 (New York: $313,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $3,339 (New York: $2,155)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 49.2% (New York: 60.8%)
> Homeownership rate: 24.1% (New York: 53.9%)
> Median household income: $86,553 (New York: $68,486)
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Source: Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina: Orange County
> Median home value: $308,800 (North Carolina: $172,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,833 (North Carolina: $1,314)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 65.7% (North Carolina: 63.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 62.6% (North Carolina: 65.2%)
> Median household income: $71,723 (North Carolina: $54,602)
Source: afiler / Flickr
North Dakota: Burleigh County
> Median home value: $263,600 (North Dakota: $193,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,632 (North Dakota: $1,426)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 59.7% (North Dakota: 53.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 68.7% (North Dakota: 62.4%)
> Median household income: $71,524 (North Dakota: $64,894)
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Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
Ohio: Delaware County
> Median home value: $308,800 (Ohio: $145,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,115 (Ohio: $1,282)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 76.0% (Ohio: 62.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 81.4% (Ohio: 66.1%)
> Median household income: $106,908 (Ohio: $56,602)
Source: David Dobbs / Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma: McClain County
> Median home value: $177,500 (Oklahoma: $136,800)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,483 (Oklahoma: $1,234)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.9% (Oklahoma: 54.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 79.4% (Oklahoma: 65.6%)
> Median household income: $67,662 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
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Source: thyegn / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Clackamas County
> Median home value: $395,100 (Oregon: $312,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,003 (Oregon: $1,699)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 70.0% (Oregon: 66.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 71.1% (Oregon: 62.4%)
> Median household income: $80,484 (Oregon: $62,818)
Source: Robert Kirk / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Median home value: $357,100 (Pennsylvania: $180,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,295 (Pennsylvania: $1,494)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.6% (Pennsylvania: 60.1%)
> Homeownership rate: 75.0% (Pennsylvania: 68.9%)
> Median household income: $100,214 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
Source: Image Source / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Median home value: $387,900 (Rhode Island: $261,900)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,209 (Rhode Island: $1,860)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 63.0% (Rhode Island: 68.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 63.2% (Rhode Island: 60.8%)
> Median household income: $79,454 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
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Source: Susanne Neumann / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: Charleston County
> Median home value: $315,600 (South Carolina: $162,300)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,747 (South Carolina: $1,246)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 66.1% (South Carolina: 58.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 61.6% (South Carolina: 69.4%)
> Median household income: $64,022 (South Carolina: $53,199)
Source: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
South Dakota: Lincoln County
> Median home value: $228,800 (South Dakota: $167,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,593 (South Dakota: $1,340)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.3% (South Dakota: 55.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 76.7% (South Dakota: 67.8%)
> Median household income: $82,473 (South Dakota: $58,275)
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Source: mavdesign / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Williamson County
> Median home value: $449,000 (Tennessee: $167,200)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,174 (Tennessee: $1,244)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 70.7% (Tennessee: 59.2%)
> Homeownership rate: 80.6% (Tennessee: 66.3%)
> Median household income: $112,962 (Tennessee: $53,320)
Source: Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Kendall County
> Median home value: $348,500 (Texas: $172,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,175 (Texas: $1,606)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 58.2% (Texas: 57.4%)
> Homeownership rate: 74.1% (Texas: 62.0%)
> Median household income: $84,747 (Texas: $61,874)
Source: J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
Utah: Summit County
> Median home value: $641,900 (Utah: $279,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,256 (Utah: $1,551)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 70.7% (Utah: 70.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 77.4% (Utah: 70.2%)
> Median household income: $102,958 (Utah: $71,621)
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Source: hstiver / Getty Images
Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median home value: $297,900 (Vermont: $227,700)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,904 (Vermont: $1,621)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 69.1% (Vermont: 62.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 62.4% (Vermont: 70.8%)
> Median household income: $73,647 (Vermont: $61,973)
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Virginia: Falls Church city
> Median home value: $789,300 (Virginia: $273,100)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $3,418 (Virginia: $1,799)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 74.8% (Virginia: 68.7%)
> Homeownership rate: 58.3% (Virginia: 66.3%)
> Median household income: $127,610 (Virginia: $74,222)
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Source: aiisha5 / Getty Images
Washington: King County
> Median home value: $549,200 (Washington: $339,000)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,477 (Washington: $1,886)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 72.2% (Washington: 68.5%)
> Homeownership rate: 56.9% (Washington: 63.0%)
> Median household income: $94,974 (Washington: $73,775)
Source: Brenda Kean / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Median home value: $252,300 (West Virginia: $119,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,683 (West Virginia: $1,050)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 72.9% (West Virginia: 46.6%)
> Homeownership rate: 76.4% (West Virginia: 73.2%)
> Median household income: $80,430 (West Virginia: $46,711)
Source: n8nhale / Flickr
Wisconsin: Ozaukee County
> Median home value: $282,500 (Wisconsin: $180,600)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $1,791 (Wisconsin: $1,430)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 66.9% (Wisconsin: 63.9%)
> Homeownership rate: 75.9% (Wisconsin: 67.0%)
> Median household income: $85,215 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
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Source: JeffGoulden / E+ via Getty Images
Wyoming: Teton County
> Median home value: $866,600 (Wyoming: $220,500)
> Median monthly housing costs with a mortgage: $2,206 (Wyoming: $1,459)
> Share of housing units with a mortgage: 50.5% (Wyoming: 58.3%)
> Homeownership rate: 60.4% (Wyoming: 70.4%)
> Median household income: $84,678 (Wyoming: $64,049)
Methodology
To determine the most expensive county to buy a home in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median owner-occupied home values from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
Of the 3,220 counties or county equivalents, 3,141 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states, while the rest were in the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
Counties were excluded if owner-occupied median home values were not available in the 2019 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a county’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a county’s owner-occupied median home value was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ owner-occupied median home values. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
The remaining 3,043 places were ranked within their state based on their owner-occupied median home values. To break ties, we used median monthly housing costs with a mortgage.
Additional information on median monthly housing costs with a mortgage, the share of owner-occupied housing units that have a mortgage, rates of homeownership, and median household income are also five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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