The median U.S. home value is $210,200 but, in states like Hawaii, that number can rise considerably, putting home-ownership further out of reach. Financial website How Much used data from real-estate site Zillow to collect average home prices for every state to find the minimum income needed to afford a place there and found that, in some places, the income necessary is almost or over six figures.
How Much used a mortgage calculator to calculate monthly payments, which consist of the principal and the interest for an assumed home loan. "The interest rate we used varied from 4-to-5 percent in each state, depending on the market. The lower the interest rate, the lower the monthly payment. To keep things simple, we assumed buyers could contribute a 10 percent down payment."
Based on that data, here are the top five states where you need to make almost or over $100,000 a year to afford the average home:
Hawaii
Minimum annual income: $153,520
Average home value: $610,000
California
Minimum annual income: $120,120
Average home value: $499,900
Massachusetts
Minimum annual income: $101,320
Average home value: $419,900
Colorado
Minimum annual income: $100,200
Average home value: $415,000
New York
Minimum annual income: $91,720
Average home value: $379,000
"Our map creates a quick snapshot of housing affordability across the United States," according to How Much. "There are several pockets in which only the upper-middle class and above can afford to own even the average home, most notably across the West and in the Northeast."
In fact, "there are only two states west of the Mississippi River where a worker with an annual salary under $40,000 can afford a midlevel home: Missouri and Oklahoma."
That doesn't mean housing is unaffordable in other places, though: "The best takeaway is that housing remains affordable in large swaths of the country," even though there are certain high-profile states where it could be tougher to find one.
If you're thinking of buying a home, check out these tips to get started.
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