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The Salary Needed to Buy a Home in 50 U.S. Cities in 2026
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Key Takeaways
- San Jose ($458,504) and San Francisco ($321,463) require some of the highest incomes in the country.
- Cities like Seattle, Miami, Denver, and Portland all require salaries between $140,000 and $190,000.
- Pittsburgh ($64,106) and Cleveland ($66,280) have some of the lowest income thresholds among the 50 cities analyzed.
Buying a home in much of America now requires a six-figure salary. In several major cities, it takes more than $200,000 a year. In San Jose, the required income is approaching half a million dollars.
Nationally, households must earn $106,731 annually to afford a median-priced home at today’s mortgage rates—well above the U.S. median household income of $83,730. That gap helps explain why affordability remains strained across much of the country.
This map breaks down the salary needed to buy a median-priced home across 50 major U.S. metros, based on data from HSH.com. Calculations assume a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, incorporating principal, interest, taxes, and insurance as of Q4 2025.
Of the cities analyzed, only 12 have median-priced homes within reach of households earning at or below the national median income.
Six Figures Is Now the Entry Point in Many Cities
Below, we rank the salary you need to afford a home in America’s largest cities.
California dominates the top of the list, with San Jose homebuyers requiring an income of $458,504, the highest among cities analyzed.
| Metro Area | Salary Needed | Median Home Price | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $458,504 | $1,920,000 | $10,698 |
| San Francisco | $321,463 | $1,305,000 | $7,501 |
| San Diego | $235,343 | $994,000 | $5,491 |
| Los Angeles | $224,190 | $939,700 | $5,231 |
| New York City | $200,280 | $753,600 | $4,673 |
| Boston | $190,858 | $757,600 | $4,453 |
| Seattle | $188,158 | $770,400 | $4,390 |
| Washington, D.C. | $161,522 | $641,600 | $3,769 |
| Miami | $156,982 | $635,000 | $3,663 |
| Denver | $154,131 | $644,100 | $3,596 |
| Riverside | $144,759 | $595,000 | $3,378 |
| Portland | $144,432 | $589,700 | $3,370 |
| Providence | $139,142 | $536,800 | $3,247 |
| Salt Lake City | $139,008 | $596,300 | $3,244 |
| Sacramento | $136,047 | $539,000 | $3,174 |
| Austin | $132,037 | $465,100 | $3,081 |
| Hartford | $116,129 | $411,400 | $2,710 |
| Orlando | $112,173 | $440,500 | $2,617 |
| Las Vegas | $111,995 | $480,700 | $2,613 |
| Raleigh | $111,327 | $452,200 | $2,598 |
| Phoenix | $111,010 | $476,700 | $2,590 |
| Chicago | $109,582 | $388,900 | $2,557 |
| Baltimore | $109,527 | $426,000 | $2,556 |
| Richmond | $108,217 | $448,200 | $2,525 |
| Milwaukee | $107,153 | $417,500 | $2,500 |
| Dallas | $106,277 | $366,600 | $2,480 |
| Philadelphia | $106,045 | $392,100 | $2,474 |
| Charlotte | $104,191 | $427,600 | $2,431 |
| Minneapolis | $103,074 | $394,900 | $2,405 |
| Tampa | $102,999 | $400,000 | $2,403 |
| Nashville | $101,436 | $421,300 | $2,367 |
| Jacksonville | $100,968 | $390,700 | $2,356 |
| Houston | $96,773 | $337,200 | $2,258 |
| Atlanta | $94,876 | $372,000 | $2,214 |
| Virginia Beach | $92,077 | $367,500 | $2,148 |
| San Antonio | $90,999 | $316,200 | $2,123 |
| Kansas City | $90,999 | $350,700 | $2,123 |
| Columbus | $88,598 | $336,300 | $2,067 |
| Buffalo | $82,255 | $286,100 | $1,919 |
| Indianapolis | $81,640 | $330,600 | $1,905 |
| Cincinnati | $80,793 | $314,900 | $1,885 |
| St Louis | $78,555 | $294,800 | $1,833 |
| Birmingham | $78,056 | $321,300 | $1,821 |
| New Orleans | $76,566 | $292,800 | $1,787 |
| Detroit | $74,264 | $276,700 | $1,733 |
| Louisville | $74,045 | $294,700 | $1,728 |
| Memphis | $73,456 | $291,600 | $1,714 |
| Oklahoma City | $71,628 | $265,000 | $1,671 |
| Cleveland | $66,280 | $236,900 | $1,547 |
| Pittsburgh | $64,106 | $237,400 | $1,496 |
Note: These calculations determine the salary needed to afford the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payments on a median-priced home in the corresponding metro area as of Q4 2025. Figures reflect homes with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and a 20% down payment.
In San Francisco, the required salary is $321,463, pushing monthly mortgage costs above $7,500. San Diego and Los Angeles follow next, with salary thresholds of $235,343 and $224,190, respectively.
On the East Coast, affordability also remains strained. In New York City, homebuyers need an income of $200,280, virtually double pre-pandemic levels. A similar trend is seen in Boston, where an income of $101,895 could afford a home in Q4 2019. It has now surged to $190,858.
Beyond the most expensive coastal markets, many large cities now require incomes between $130,000 and $190,000, including Seattle, Denver, Miami, Riverside, and Portland.
Where Homes Are Most Affordable
Among the lowest required salaries to afford a home are found in Midwestern and Southern cities:
- Pittsburgh: $64,106
- Cleveland: $66,280
- Oklahoma City: $71,628
- Memphis: $73,456
- Detroit: $74,264
Overall, just 12 cities had median-priced homes within reach for households earning at—or below—the 2024 U.S. median income of $83,730. This comes as the median age of U.S. homebuyers has climbed to 59, and the share of first-time buyers has fallen by roughly 50% since 2007.
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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the cost of the American dream.