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Mapped: Where Young Americans Still Own Homes
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Key Takeaways
- Minnesota is the only state where a majority of Americans under 35 own homes.
- Young adult homeownership falls below 30% in California and New York.
- Midwestern and Southern states dominate the rankings thanks to lower home prices relative to income.
For Americans under 35 years old, the path to homeownership looks dramatically different across the country.
This map shows the share of young adults who own homes in each U.S. state, based on data from Evernest via ConsumerAffairs. While nearly half of young adults own homes across parts of the Midwest and South, ownership rates fall below 30% in high-cost states like Hawaii, California, and New York.
The data suggests high home prices are increasingly outweighing income gains for younger buyers.
Where Young Americans Are Most Likely to Own Homes
Minnesota stands alone as the only state where a majority of Americans under 35 own homes.
Across much of the Midwest and South, lower home prices relative to incomes continue to make ownership attainable for younger households. States like Michigan, Alabama, Indiana, and West Virginia all report ownership rates near or above 47%.
The table below compares under-35 homeownership rates alongside average home prices and incomes by state.
| State | Homeownership Rate (Under 35) | Avg. House Sale Price | Avg. Household Income (Ages 25-44) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 50.8% | $323,437 | $94,870 |
| Michigan | 49.3% | $236,678 | $75,980 |
| Alabama | 49.1% | $222,524 | $65,650 |
| Indiana | 47.0% | $231,691 | $76,730 |
| Utah | 46.1% | $508,930 | $95,210 |
| West Virginia | 49.9% | $158,255 | $64,760 |
| Delaware | 46.5% | $375,056 | $90,170 |
| South Carolina | 48.0% | $292,567 | $72,090 |
| Mississippi | 49.2% | $174,275 | $58,640 |
| Kentucky | 46.9% | $201,708 | $69,080 |
| Iowa | 45.6% | $209,333 | $79,280 |
| Idaho | 45.8% | $445,103 | $82,710 |
| Maine | 45.1% | $385,896 | $81,190 |
| Pennsylvania | 44.1% | $259,536 | $83,480 |
| Missouri | 44.1% | $238,797 | $74,130 |
| North Carolina | 43.9% | $325,005 | $74,880 |
| Tennessee | 44.5% | $315,888 | $71,710 |
| Maryland | 40.9% | $411,549 | $98,950 |
| New Hampshire | 41.9% | $462,492 | $101,860 |
| Georgia | 42.8% | $324,442 | $78,180 |
| Ohio | 42.1% | $219,861 | $75,120 |
| Colorado | 40.5% | $537,439 | $99,250 |
| Arkansas | 43.5% | $205,651 | $63,320 |
| Illinois | 40.9% | $259,430 | $86,620 |
| South Dakota | 42.6% | $295,632 | $80,820 |
| New Mexico | 43.9% | $296,178 | $66,010 |
| Vermont | 41.1% | $387,998 | $88,480 |
| Virginia | 39.6% | $382,930 | $93,920 |
| Louisiana | 42.7% | $196,628 | $64,890 |
| Wisconsin | 40.2% | $296,336 | $83,690 |
| Kansas | 40.7% | $217,707 | $79,210 |
| Wyoming | 40.8% | $338,484 | $83,820 |
| New Jersey | 38.7% | $523,220 | $106,270 |
| Arizona | 40.4% | $426,782 | $81,200 |
| Connecticut | 38.0% | $394,187 | $97,380 |
| Florida | 40.2% | $390,748 | $77,490 |
| Oklahoma | 40.1% | $200,266 | $65,840 |
| Nevada | 38.1% | $430,784 | $77,840 |
| Nebraska | 37.9% | $251,894 | $79,870 |
| Montana | 38.5% | $441,167 | $80,900 |
| Alaska | 35.6% | $360,554 | $96,770 |
| Washington | 34.8% | $577,920 | $103,000 |
| North Dakota | 36.2% | $257,276 | $82,360 |
| Texas | 35.6% | $299,727 | $77,880 |
| Massachusetts | 32.6% | $605,614 | $108,540 |
| Rhode Island | 32.2% | $447,922 | $93,540 |
| Oregon | 32.8% | $484,468 | $86,930 |
| California | 27.8% | $761,661 | $100,620 |
| New York | 27.5% | $462,697 | $92,270 |
| Hawaii | 24.5% | $829,941 | $94,200 |
By contrast, young homeownership falls sharply in America’s most expensive housing markets.
In Hawaii, average home prices approach $830K, nearly nine times average young adult household incomes. As a result, just 24.5% of residents under 35 own homes, the lowest rate nationwide.
California (27.8%), New York (27.5%), and Massachusetts (32.6%) follow a similar pattern, where even six-figure incomes struggle to offset elevated housing costs.
Notably, Massachusetts has the highest average young adult household incomes, at nearly $109K, yet ranks among the lowest in homeownership. This reinforces how prices, not pay, are the binding constraint.
The Cost Gap Driving Young Buyers Out
Post-pandemic home price growth has far outpaced incomes, significantly raising the barrier to entry for first-time buyers.
In 2025, median U.S. home prices relative to median household incomes were near record highs of 5.1, up from 3.1 in 1985. At the same time, the median homebuyer age has risen to 40, up from 29 in the 1980s, as buyers need more time to save.
Higher interest rates have also raised monthly mortgage rates, increasing the minimum income requirements for buying a home. In turn, this is pricing out even more potential buyers across a growing number of markets.
Together, these trends are pushing homeownership further out of reach for younger Americans, especially in high-cost states where prices have risen much faster than incomes.
As a result, where Americans live increasingly shapes how early they can afford to buy a home.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on real estate ownership by generation.