The Least Expensive City to Own a Home in Every U.S. State
When it comes to owning a home, it’s all about location, location, location. The city you choose to put down roots will affect so many aspects of your life, including the home you can afford. While certain urban hubs are notorious for being unaffordable, there are other markets that make buying a home just a little more achievable.
Wondering where housing costs are lowest in your state? Yearly, the Census Bureau produces the American Community Survey (ACS), which asks U.S. residents questions about their lives to provide greater insight into the nation’s population.
Using ACS data from the years of 2013 through 2017, Business Insider created a map that shows the town in each state that has the lowest median homeowner costs. This number includes mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, and property taxes.
The towns are broken down into three categories, according to average monthly homeowner costs: under $800, $800-$1,000, and over $1,000.
The least expensive town on the list is Pocahontas, Arkansas, where it will only set you back $613 a month to own a home. Located on the Black River, this southern town is a regional hub for light industry and farm supplies.
Other states that have towns that clock in under $800 in monthly homeowner expenses include Ohio (Fostoria, $766), Illinois (Fairfield, $732), and Michigan (St. Helen, $673).
In states at the higher end of the spectrum, like Delaware, the lowest median cost still comes in at $1,176. For that price, you get to live in Georgetown, a popular place to raise a family with a suburban feel.
In addition to Georgetown, many of the most expensive towns are clustered around the Northeast (Stafford Springs, Connecticut, at $1,373; Berlin, New Hampshire, at $1,126; North Adams, Massachusetts ,at $1,175; and Newport, Vermont, at $1,177).
If you live in Rhode Island, you can expect to shell out the most for a home. The least expensive town there is Pawtucket, where you’ll pay an average of $1,592 in monthly expenses.
The only states outside of the Northeast where the least expensive town still has housing expenses over $1,000 monthly are Worland, Wyoming, ($1,029) and Soldotna, Alaska, at $1,415.
Head on over to Business Insider to see the complete map.