Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Lowest Median Home Values
Affordability is one of the most important factors driving domestic migration in the United States. States with the lowest home values — typically West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas — offer housing that costs a fraction of what buyers pay in coastal markets. A family can purchase a median-priced home in the most affordable states for less than a down payment on a home in San Francisco or Honolulu. However, low home values often correlate with lower incomes, fewer job opportunities, and weaker local economies. The best value for homebuyers is found in states that combine reasonable home prices with solid employment markets — states like Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio offer this balance. Remote work has supercharged the appeal of affordable states, as workers earning coastal salaries can now buy homes in markets where their purchasing power is dramatically higher.
Key Findings
- 1West Virginia leads with a median home value of $155,600, followed by Mississippi ($161,400) and Arkansas ($175,300).
- 2Hawaii ranks last at $808,200, while West Virginia leads at $155,600.
- 3The national median across all states is $272,900 (Georgia at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas.
Full Ranking: States With Lowest Median Home Values
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $285,100 | $968.00 | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $247,400 | $1,045 | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $155,600 | $850.00 | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | $519,800 | $1,682 | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | $360,700 | $1,514 | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | $290,500 | $1,193 | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | $455,000 | $1,405 | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | $260,400 | $1,339 | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $256,800 | $1,122 | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $236,800 | $912.00 | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $236,700 | $1,126 | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $368,800 | $1,273 | $86,372 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $240,500 | $1,162 | $76,081 |
| 14 | Oregon | $454,200 | $1,450 | $80,426 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $185,900 | $980.00 | $63,603 |
| 16 | Ohio | $199,200 | $988.00 | $69,680 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $241,100 | $934.00 | $75,949 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $259,400 | $1,162 | $69,904 |
| 19 | New York | $403,000 | $1,576 | $84,578 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $232,200 | $1,021 | $62,125 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $427,600 | $1,653 | $101,050 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $367,200 | $1,423 | $95,628 |
| 23 | Nevada | $406,100 | $1,489 | $75,561 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $223,800 | $1,035 | $74,985 |
| 25 | Montana | $338,100 | $1,031 | $69,922 |
| 26 | Missouri | $215,600 | $996.00 | $68,920 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $161,400 | $923.00 | $54,915 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $305,500 | $1,235 | $87,556 |
| 29 | Michigan | $217,600 | $1,084 | $71,149 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $525,800 | $1,687 | $101,341 |
| 31 | Maryland | $397,700 | $1,662 | $101,652 |
| 32 | Maine | $266,400 | $1,084 | $71,773 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $208,700 | $1,038 | $60,023 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $192,300 | $933.00 | $62,417 |
| 35 | Kansas | $203,400 | $1,029 | $72,639 |
| 36 | Iowa | $195,900 | $949.00 | $73,147 |
| 37 | Indiana | $201,600 | $1,020 | $70,051 |
| 38 | Illinois | $250,500 | $1,227 | $81,702 |
| 39 | Idaho | $376,000 | $1,150 | $74,636 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $808,200 | $1,938 | $98,317 |
| 41 | Georgia | $272,900 | $1,306 | $74,664 |
| 42 | Florida | $325,000 | $1,564 | $71,711 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $724,600 | $1,900 | $106,287 |
| 44 | Delaware | $326,800 | $1,341 | $82,855 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $343,200 | $1,431 | $93,760 |
| 46 | Colorado | $502,200 | $1,693 | $92,470 |
| 47 | California | $695,400 | $1,956 | $96,334 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $175,300 | $914.00 | $58,773 |
| 49 | Arizona | $358,900 | $1,431 | $76,872 |
| 50 | Alaska | $333,300 | $1,388 | $89,336 |
| 51 | Alabama | $195,100 | $963.00 | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia has the highest median home value at $155,600, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Mississippi and Arkansas round out the top three.
Hawaii has the lowest median home value at $808,200. District of Columbia is second-lowest at $724,600.
The median across all 51 states is $272,900. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.