Many households recognize the standard guideline that housing expenses should remain under 30 percent of income. This benchmark helps families steer clear of becoming house poor, where monthly costs leave little room for savings or other needs.

Realtor.com analysis reveals that in most states the median income falls short of comfortably covering a median priced home. Persistent challenges including elevated mortgage rates, rising property values, and broader inflation continue to strain budgets for essentials.

Yet Realtor.com pinpointed eleven states where buyers earning the median income can secure a typical home while staying within the 30 percent threshold. Most of these states lie in the Midwest, and notably no southern states qualified despite their reputation for lower costs overall.

Economist Joel Berner noted that Midwestern labor markets support stronger incomes relative to home prices and feature fewer very low income households compared with southern states, enabling more residents to qualify for ownership.

The following eleven states meet the criteria where median income households can afford median priced homes without exceeding 30 percent of income.

11. Minnesota

Share of median income needed: 29.9 percent
Median household income: $88,572
Median home list price: $388,212

10. Maryland

Share of median income needed: 29.8 percent
Median household income: $99,340
Median home list price: $434,302

9. Missouri

Share of median income needed: 29.5 percent
Median household income: $69,725
Median home list price: $301,158

8. West Virginia

Share of median income needed: 29.4 percent
Median household income: $60,185
Median home list price: $259,523

7. Pennsylvania

Share of median income needed: 28.5 percent
Median household income: $74,855
Median home list price: $312,487

6. Michigan

Share of median income needed: 28.3 percent
Median household income: $70,131
Median home list price: $290,329

5. Indiana

Share of median income needed: 28.3 percent
Median household income: $71,469
Median home list price: $295,810

4. Kansas

Share of median income needed: 27 percent
Median household income: $74,030
Median home list price: $292,632

3. Ohio

Share of median income needed: 27 percent
Median household income: $70,196
Median home list price: $277,348

2. Illinois

Share of median income needed: 26 percent
Median household income: $80,648
Median home list price: $307,674

1. Iowa

Share of median income needed: 25.4 percent
Median household income: $75,991
Median home list price: $282,886