Affordability ranking · September 2026 data
Income needed to buy a home
At the 7.28% 30-year mortgage rate (October 1, 2026), buying the median-priced home with 20% down takes the most income in Nantucket, MA: about $1.42M a year. In 706 of 782 markets, the income needed exceeds the local median household income, before insurance and HOA dues.
How much income do you need to buy a home?
At the 7.28% 30-year mortgage rate (October 1, 2026), buying the median-priced home with 20% down takes the most income in Nantucket, MA: about $1.42M a year. In 706 of 782 markets, the income needed exceeds the local median household income, before insurance and HOA dues.
The list ranks markets by the gross household income needed so that principal, interest and property tax on the median listing stay at 28% of income, with 20% down at the current national rate. The 10 markets needing the least income:
- Canton, IL: $31,000
- Johnstown, PA: $34,000
- Macomb, IL: $36,000
- Pine Bluff, AR: $37,000
- Danville, IL: $38,000
- New Iberia, LA: $40,000
- Pampa, TX: $40,000
- Marion, IN: $42,000
- Greenville, MS: $43,000
- Burlington, IA: $43,000
1
Nantucket, MA
$5.87M median list · +6.6% YoY
$1.42M
Income needed / yr
$119,750
Median HH income
$33,225
P&I + tax / mo
2
Vineyard Haven, MA
$2.5M median list · +1.4% YoY
$630,000
Income needed / yr
$102,348
Median HH income
$14,696
P&I + tax / mo
3
Jackson, WY
$2.15M median list · +10.4% YoY
$534,000
Income needed / yr
$106,679
Median HH income
$12,467
P&I + tax / mo
4
Santa Barbara, CA
$1.72M median list · -8.9% YoY
$444,000
Income needed / yr
$95,977
Median HH income
$10,365
P&I + tax / mo
5
Heber, UT
$1.59M median list · +11.0% YoY
$397,000
Income needed / yr
$125,583
Median HH income
$9,259
P&I + tax / mo
6
Rifle, CO
$1.51M median list · -5.8% YoY
$378,000
Income needed / yr
$90,267
Median HH income
$8,811
P&I + tax / mo
7
Kapaa, HI
$1.51M median list · +8.1% YoY
$366,000
Income needed / yr
$93,612
Median HH income
$8,529
P&I + tax / mo
8
San Jose, CA
$1.39M median list · +1.7% YoY
$361,000
Income needed / yr
$157,444
Median HH income
$8,422
P&I + tax / mo
9
Salinas, CA
$1.29M median list · +0.7% YoY
$333,000
Income needed / yr
$94,486
Median HH income
$7,768
P&I + tax / mo
10
Napa, CA
$1.27M median list · -10.1% YoY
$330,000
Income needed / yr
$108,970
Median HH income
$7,708
P&I + tax / mo
11
Santa Cruz, CA
$1.25M median list · +0.1% YoY
$321,000
Income needed / yr
$109,266
Median HH income
$7,486
P&I + tax / mo
12
Hailey, ID
$1.25M median list · -26.6% YoY
$310,000
Income needed / yr
$81,389
Median HH income
$7,233
P&I + tax / mo
13
Key West, FL
$1.2M median list · -4.1% YoY
$304,000
Income needed / yr
$82,430
Median HH income
$7,103
P&I + tax / mo
14
Edwards, CO
$1.15M median list · +22.7% YoY
$286,000
Income needed / yr
$103,174
Median HH income
$6,685
P&I + tax / mo
15
Los Angeles, CA
$1.03M median list · -5.9% YoY
$268,000
Income needed / yr
$93,525
Median HH income
$6,249
P&I + tax / mo
16
San Luis Obispo, CA
$1.03M median list · -7.3% YoY
$268,000
Income needed / yr
$93,398
Median HH income
$6,246
P&I + tax / mo
17
San Francisco, CA
$957,475 median list · -1.8% YoY
$250,000
Income needed / yr
$133,780
Median HH income
$5,823
P&I + tax / mo
18
Bozeman, MT
$954,500 median list · +6.4% YoY
$244,000
Income needed / yr
$87,454
Median HH income
$5,702
P&I + tax / mo
19
Oxnard, CA
$942,076 median list · -5.7% YoY
$244,000
Income needed / yr
$107,327
Median HH income
$5,698
P&I + tax / mo
20
Kahului, HI
$995,000 median list · -13.5% YoY
$239,000
Income needed / yr
$95,049
Median HH income
$5,587
P&I + tax / mo
21
Santa Rosa, CA
$908,500 median list · -6.8% YoY
$236,000
Income needed / yr
$102,840
Median HH income
$5,518
P&I + tax / mo
22
Barnstable Town, MA
$899,000 median list · -2.5% YoY
$234,000
Income needed / yr
$94,452
Median HH income
$5,453
P&I + tax / mo
23
San Diego, CA
$888,450 median list · -6.3% YoY
$231,000
Income needed / yr
$102,285
Median HH income
$5,381
P&I + tax / mo
24
Kalispell, MT
$897,000 median list · -5.3% YoY
$230,000
Income needed / yr
$71,327
Median HH income
$5,366
P&I + tax / mo
25
Stamford, CT
$776,000 median list · -2.9% YoY
$229,000
Income needed / yr
$111,656
Median HH income
$5,334
P&I + tax / mo
26
Breckenridge, CO
$908,625 median list · -9.0% YoY
$224,000
Income needed / yr
$102,233
Median HH income
$5,231
P&I + tax / mo
27
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV
$888,450 median list · -6.3% YoY
$223,000
Income needed / yr
$88,659
Median HH income
$5,196
P&I + tax / mo
28
Steamboat Springs, CO
$883,625 median list · -4.2% YoY
$219,000
Income needed / yr
$93,984
Median HH income
$5,117
P&I + tax / mo
29
New York, NY
$742,000 median list · -2.3% YoY
$219,000
Income needed / yr
$97,334
Median HH income
$5,106
P&I + tax / mo
30
Newark, NJ
$742,000 median list · -2.3% YoY
$219,000
Income needed / yr
$97,334
Median HH income
$5,106
P&I + tax / mo
31
Boston, MA
$784,778 median list · -3.4% YoY
$215,000
Income needed / yr
$112,484
Median HH income
$5,015
P&I + tax / mo
32
Ellensburg, WA
$799,495 median list · +2.8% YoY
$208,000
Income needed / yr
$69,928
Median HH income
$4,849
P&I + tax / mo
33
Sandpoint, ID
$827,800 median list · +1.1% YoY
$206,000
Income needed / yr
$65,168
Median HH income
$4,807
P&I + tax / mo
34
Spearfish, SD
$776,225 median list · +7.1% YoY
$206,000
Income needed / yr
$66,766
Median HH income
$4,805
P&I + tax / mo
35
Fredericksburg, TX
$745,250 median list · -6.3% YoY
$202,000
Income needed / yr
$67,799
Median HH income
$4,713
P&I + tax / mo
36
Seattle, WA
$749,970 median list · -2.4% YoY
$199,000
Income needed / yr
$112,594
Median HH income
$4,649
P&I + tax / mo
37
Durango, CO
$812,500 median list · -9.6% YoY
$198,000
Income needed / yr
$85,296
Median HH income
$4,623
P&I + tax / mo
38
Oak Harbor, WA
$762,459 median list · +1.3% YoY
$198,000
Income needed / yr
$88,358
Median HH income
$4,618
P&I + tax / mo
39
Santa Fe, NM
$776,500 median list · -5.4% YoY
$196,000
Income needed / yr
$74,689
Median HH income
$4,580
P&I + tax / mo
40
Missoula, MT
$735,000 median list · +13.1% YoY
$196,000
Income needed / yr
$70,888
Median HH income
$4,568
P&I + tax / mo
41
Boulder, CO
$769,975 median list · -4.7% YoY
$195,000
Income needed / yr
$102,772
Median HH income
$4,561
P&I + tax / mo
42
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$759,000 median list · -2.7% YoY
$191,000
Income needed / yr
$77,034
Median HH income
$4,452
P&I + tax / mo
43
Kingston, NY
$625,500 median list · +8.8% YoY
$190,000
Income needed / yr
$81,804
Median HH income
$4,435
P&I + tax / mo
44
Hudson, NY
$649,225 median list · -1.1% YoY
$188,000
Income needed / yr
$83,619
Median HH income
$4,392
P&I + tax / mo
45
Torrington, CT
$626,225 median list · -2.8% YoY
$187,000
Income needed / yr
$91,035
Median HH income
$4,367
P&I + tax / mo
46
Flagstaff, AZ
$741,000 median list · +4.4% YoY
$187,000
Income needed / yr
$69,748
Median HH income
$4,359
P&I + tax / mo
47
Port Townsend, WA
$699,950 median list · +0.1% YoY
$182,000
Income needed / yr
$71,143
Median HH income
$4,257
P&I + tax / mo
48
Mount Vernon, WA
$684,900 median list · -3.5% YoY
$181,000
Income needed / yr
$85,474
Median HH income
$4,217
P&I + tax / mo
49
Bend, OR
$699,900 median list · -4.9% YoY
$180,000
Income needed / yr
$85,509
Median HH income
$4,198
P&I + tax / mo
50
Petoskey, MI
$671,975 median list · -9.1% YoY
$179,000
Income needed / yr
$73,724
Median HH income
$4,188
P&I + tax / mo
How is the income needed calculated?
Income needed = 12 × (monthly principal and interest on 80% of the September 2026 median listing price at 7.28% over 30 years + monthly property tax at the market's Census ACS effective tax rate) ÷ 0.28. Homeowners insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance are excluded rather than estimated, so the true figure is higher. Universe: 782 markets with a tax rate and at least 100 active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you need the least income to buy a home?
Canton, IL needs the least: about $31,000 a year for the median listing with 20% down at 7.28%.
What is the 28% rule?
Lenders traditionally want housing costs (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) at or below 28% of gross monthly income. WealthyBud applies it to principal, interest and property tax only.
Which market ranks #1 on WealthyBud's income needed to buy a home list?
Nantucket, MA ranks first on this list, based on September 2026 data. At the 7.28% 30-year mortgage rate (October 1, 2026), buying the median-priced home with 20% down takes the most income in Nantucket, MA: about $1.42M a year. In 706 of 782 markets, the income needed exceeds the local median household income, before insurance and HOA dues.
How is this ranking calculated?
How is the income needed calculated?Income needed = 12 x (monthly principal and interest on 80% of the September 2026 median listing price at 7.28% over 30 years + monthly property tax at the market's Census ACS effective tax rate) / 0.28. Homeowners insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance are excluded rather than estimated, so the true figure is higher. Universe: 782 markets with a tax rate and at least 100 active listings.
Is this list investment advice?
No. It is a data-derived screen computed from the public sources cited on this page, using the formula shown above. It does not account for a specific property's condition, taxes, insurance, financing or your goals, so verify any market independently and run real numbers before you buy.
Based on public records and industry data, as of September 2026; refreshed as sources update. Full formulas and source limits: full methodology. Rankings and scores are data-derived opinions for research, not investment advice — verify current conditions with a local agent, lender or MLS before acting.