The median household income in the U.S. — $77,719 — is no longer enough to afford a median-priced home. The median home price nationwide is now $438,000, which means you would need a household income of $123,226 to afford to buy a home if you make a 20% down payment.
Check Out: 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value
Learn More: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
While there are some major cities where you can afford a typical home earning less than six figures, that has become the exception and not the rule, according to a new Clever Real Estate study. The study found the income needed to afford a home with a 20% down payment in the 50 largest cities, and it turns out you need a household income of at least $100,000 to afford it in 33 of them.
Here’s a look at the major cities where you need a six-figure household income to afford a typical home, ranked by affordability based on the local median income.
Also see cities where home values have increased the most.
Baltimore
Median household income: $94,289
Median home sales price (April 2025): $395,000
Income needed with 20% down: $111,649
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $17,360
Find Out: 50 Cheapest Places To Retire Across America
Also See: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
Trending Now: Suze Orman’s Secret to a Wealthy Retirement–Have You Made This Money Move?
Minneapolis
Median household income: $95,102
Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
Income needed with 20% down: $117,547
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,445
Explore More: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years
Richmond, Virginia
Median household income: $84,332
Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
Income needed with 20% down: $106,909
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $22,577
Milwaukee
Median household income: $77,006
Median home sales price (April 2025): $347,000
Income needed with 20% down: $100,075
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,069
Atlanta
Median household income: $86,505
Median home sales price (April 2025): $400,000
Income needed with 20% down: $109,760
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,255
Raleigh, North Carolina
Median household income: $96,096
Median home sales price (April 2025): $441,000
Income needed with 20% down: $120,069
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $23,973
Discover More: 25 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families
Charlotte, North Carolina
Median household income: $81,262
Median home sales price (April 2025): $409,000
Income needed with 20% down: $107,912
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $26,650
Chicago
Median household income: $87,071
Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
Income needed with 20% down: $118,197
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $31,126
Houston
Median household income: $79,463
Median home sales price (April 2025): $340,000
Income needed with 20% down: $115,194
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $35,731
Las Vegas
Median household income: $75,065
Median home sales price (April 2025): $449,000
Income needed with 20% down: $113,839
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,774
Read More: What Salary Single People Need To Live Comfortably in 100 Major US Cities
Jacksonville, Florida
Median household income: $77,044
Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
Income needed with 20% down: $115,831
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $38,787
Phoenix
Median household income: $85,700
Median home sales price (April 2025): $458,000
Income needed with 20% down: $125,174
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $39,474
Washington
Median household income: $121,469
Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
Income needed with 20% down: $161,911
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,442
Austin, Texas
Median household income: $98,508
Median home sales price (April 2025): $450,000
Income needed with 20% down: $139,062
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $40,554
Find More: The Cheapest Place To Buy a Home in Every State
Fresno, California
Median household income: $71,140
Median home sales price (April 2025): $418,000
Income needed with 20% down: $112,172
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $41,032
Nashville, Tennessee
Median household income: $84,685
Median home sales price (April 2025): $470,000
Income needed with 20% down: $126,705
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,020
Salt Lake City
Median household income: $94,409
Median home sales price (April 2025): $530,000
Income needed with 20% down: $136,876
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $42,467
Tampa, Florida
Median household income: $72,743
Median home sales price (April 2025): $370,000
Income needed with 20% down: $116,256
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $43,513
See More: 5 Types of Homes Expected To Plummet in Value by the End of 2025
Orlando, Florida
Median household income: $77,378
Median home sales price (April 2025): $408,000
Income needed with 20% down: $128,233
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $50,855
Dallas
Median household income: $86,860
Median home sales price (April 2025): $425,000
Income needed with 20% down: $138,791
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $51,931
Portland, Oregon
Median household income: $94,925
Median home sales price (April 2025): $559,000
Income needed with 20% down: $147,663
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $52,738
Providence, Rhode Island
Median household income: $83,330
Median home sales price (April 2025): $485,000
Income needed with 20% down: $142,700
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $59,370
Also Know: 7 Housing Markets Where Home Values Could Plummet
Sacramento, California
Median household income: $94,992
Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
Income needed with 20% down: $159,312
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $64,320
Denver
Median household income: $103,055
Median home sales price (April 2025): $600,000
Income needed with 20% down: $168,958
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $65,903
Riverside, California
Median household income: $87,843
Median home sales price (April 2025): $596,000
Income needed with 20% down: $160,783
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $72,940
Boston
Median household income: $110,697
Median home sales price (April 2025): $750,000
Income needed with 20% down: $215,387
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $104,690
Discover More: 20 Best Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K
Miami
Median household income: $76,271
Median home sales price (April 2025): $590,000
Income needed with 20% down: $188,008
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $111,737
Seattle
Median household income: $110,744
Median home sales price (April 2025): $850,000
Income needed with 20% down: $230,379
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $119,635
New York
Median household income: $95,220
Median home sales price (April 2025): $765,000
Income needed with 20% down: $233,455
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $138,235
San Diego
Median household income: $103,674
Median home sales price (April 2025): $920,000
Income needed with 20% down: $246,134
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $142,460
Also See: 5 Affordable Small Cities To Live In on the West Coast
Los Angeles
Median household income: $91,960
Median home sales price (April 2025): $905,000
Income needed with 20% down: $241,149
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $149,189
San Francisco
Median household income: $127,792
Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,550,000
Income needed with 20% down: $415,871
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $288,079
San Jose, California
Median household income: $153,202
Median home sales price (April 2025): $1,700,000
Income needed with 20% down: $458,297
Income gap to afford median home with 20% down: $305,095
Editor’s note: Data was sourced from Clever Real Estate and is accurate as of May 19, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
6 Costco Products That Have the Most Customer Complaints
Mark Cuban Warns of ‘Red Rural Recession’ — 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard
How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
4 Low-Risk Ways To Build Your Savings in 2025
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 33 Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home
