How much you need to earn to afford to buy a home in 15 major US cities

Are you saving to buy a home? Email reporter Alicia Adamczyk at alicia.adamczyk@nbcuni.com with your story for a chance to be featured in a future Make It article.

When you're in the market for a home, saving up for a hefty down payment typically won't be enough to secure a mortgage. Lenders also expect borrowers to have a decent credit score — 90% of home buyers had a score of at least 650 in the first quarter of 2019 — and an income high enough that they are confident you'll be able to make your mortgage payments each month.

The national qualifying income needed to buy a home is $55,575 with 10% down, and $49,400 with a 20% down payment, according to data from the National Association of Realtors' Metropolitan Median Area Prices and Affordability index from the fourth quarter of 2019.

The data assumes a 3.67% mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage, and a monthly principal and interest payment limited to 25% of a resident's income.

Depending on where you live, though, the salary you need to qualify for a mortgage varies widely. These are the incomes you need to afford a home in 15 major U.S. metropolitan areas, ranked from lowest median home price to highest.

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $55,575
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $49,400
• Median home price: $233,800

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $35,237
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $31,322
• Median home price: $174,300

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $39,361
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $34,988
• Median home price: $194,700

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $45,184
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $40,163
• Median home price: $223,500

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $46,902
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $41,691
• Median home price: $232,000

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $48,883
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $43,452
• Median home price: $241,800

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $51,491
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $45,770
• Median home price: $254,700

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $54,301
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $48,268
• Median home price: $268,600

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $56,566
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $50,281
• Median home price: $279,800

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $83,069
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $73,839
• Median home price: $295,400

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $59,719
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $53,084
• Median home price: $410,900

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $86,526
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $76,912
• Median home price: $428,000

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $92,591
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $82,303
• Median home price: $458,000

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $97,605
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $86,760
• Median home price: $482,800

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $200,143
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $177,905
• Median home price: $990,000

• Salary required with a 10% down payment: $251,897
• Salary required with a 20% down payment: $223,900
• Median home price: $1,246,000

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