Which metro area has the lowest afford score?

Ottumwa, IA ranks #1 with 1.3 (1990 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 metro areas by afford score?

Ottumwa, IA, Borger, TX, Canton, IL, New Castle, IN, Fort Madison, IA.

How many metro areas are in this ranking?

918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 ACS 5-year data.

How is afford score measured?

CensusEasy Afford Score: median home value divided by median household income, the number of years of a typical local income it takes to buy a typical local home. Lower is more affordable. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (1990).

RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 418 SHOWN OF 918

Most affordable housing, US metro areas · 1990

US metro areas with the lowest CensusEasy Afford Score, where homes cost the fewest years of local income (2023 ACS).

Flip the list · Least affordable housing, US metro areas →

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 2000

501Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,0102.3−15%

502Jackson, MSMS609,8472.3+9%

503Toccoa, GAGA27,8542.3−10%

504Salem, OROR445,8142.3−30%

505Mankato, MNMN104,9072.3−7%

506Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,8582.3−9%

507Bloomsburg, PAPA66,1932.3−10%

508Spokane, WAWA608,0122.3−24%

509Roanoke, VAVA316,5472.3−10%

510Roanoke Rapids, NCNC63,0252.3+3%

511Bowling Green, KYKY197,1802.3−8%

512Danville, KYKY56,9852.3−3%

513Klamath Falls, OROR70,2742.3−17%

514Huntsville, ALAL556,4442.3+4%

515Watertown, SDSD29,5622.3+3%

516Helena, MTMT97,1532.3−20%

517Madison, WIWI709,6852.3−21%

518Anderson Creek, NCNC150,1372.3−0%

519Boise City, IDID864,2432.3−14%

520Faribault, MNMN69,9392.3−10%

521Pensacola, FLFL544,9492.3−1%

522Watertown, NYNY111,5402.3+18%

523Lewiston, IDID65,4502.3−19%

524Elizabethtown, KYKY128,6662.3+2%

525Mobile, ALAL411,6582.3+1%

526Charlotte, NCNC2,938,8302.3−8%

527Tyler, TXTX252,5492.3+12%

528Sanford, NCNC70,2582.3+0%

529Walla Walla, WAWA62,3612.3−24%

530Bismarck, NDND139,7502.3+9%

531Lynchburg, VAVA269,1692.3−9%

532Cookeville, TNTN152,4772.3−15%

533Springfield, MOMO500,6942.3−10%

534Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,5002.3+6%

535Columbus, GAGA324,8302.3−0%

536Brookings, SDSD37,6352.3−3%

537Savannah, GAGA438,3142.3+1%

538Traverse City, MIMI156,9722.3−20%

539Knoxville, TNTN968,1372.3−7%

540Gallipolis, OHOH29,0722.3+3%

541Columbus, OHOH2,242,0282.3−12%

542Rocky Mount, NCNC148,4862.3+5%

543Fayetteville, ARAR622,1772.3−4%

544Yakima, WAWA259,1852.3−24%

545Riverton, WYWY39,4642.3−12%

546Fairbanks, AKAK93,9722.3−11%

547Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,4422.3+12%

548Gallup, NMNM68,1192.3+32%

549Los Alamos, NMNM19,4072.3−14%

550Granbury, TXTX70,5012.3+15%

551Portland, OROR2,542,2822.3−34%

552Albany, GAGA145,5102.3+11%

553Morgan City, LALA46,5522.3+4%

554Bemidji, MNMN47,0552.3+5%

555Pikeville, KYKY89,1222.3+14%

556Charleston, WVWV200,1702.3+6%

557Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,3772.3−26%

558Bogalusa, LALA44,9372.3+7%

559Centralia, WAWA88,0622.3−27%

560Columbia, SCSC879,9182.3+6%

561Moses Lake, WAWA105,7272.3−12%

562Winston-Salem, NCNC712,2062.3−6%

563Silver City, NMNM27,2522.3−17%

564Gloversville, NYNY52,2162.3+25%

565Sheridan, WYWY33,2412.3−18%

566Dallas, TXTX8,477,1572.3+15%

567Pueblo, COCO169,2772.3−17%

568Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,6912.3−9%

569Greenville, MSMS40,4462.3+16%

570Kingsland, GAGA60,1432.4+22%

571Harrisburg, PAPA617,4272.4−3%

572Detroit Lakes, MNMN35,4972.4−2%

573Johnson City, TNTN216,4162.4−11%

574Cleveland, OHOH2,165,7752.4−13%

575Grand Forks, NDND105,0462.4+2%

576Cornelia, GAGA50,4162.4−5%

577Big Rapids, MIMI42,3202.4−7%

578Roseburg, OROR111,9512.4−21%

579Clovis, NMNM65,2702.4+11%

580Burlington, NCNC186,1772.4−4%

581Bluefield, WVWV96,1382.4+14%

582Killeen, TXTX511,4972.4+17%

583Crossville, TNTN66,3002.4−12%

584Stephenville, TXTX43,9112.4+7%

585New Iberia, LALA66,8462.4+14%

586Memphis, TNTN1,341,4122.4+5%

587Zapata, TXTX13,7532.4+57%

588North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,2332.4+1%

589Washington, NCNC44,6702.4+6%

590Juneau city and, AKAK31,6092.4−18%

591Warrensburg, MOMO56,6702.4−4%

592Elko, NVNV56,6822.4+10%

593Vidalia, GAGA36,1802.4+22%

594Brookhaven, MSMS35,0122.4+13%

595Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,2952.4−6%

596Lebanon, PAPA146,3802.4−2%

597Monroe, LALA222,3902.4+9%

598Anchorage, AKAK405,8212.4−11%

599Richmond, KYKY131,8062.4−3%

600Shreveport, LALA383,4742.4+11%

601Arcadia, FLFL37,0782.4+32%

602Champaign, ILIL239,9792.4+4%

603Hattiesburg, MSMS158,0142.4+6%

604Columbia, MOMO219,0622.4−8%

605Lakeland, FLFL874,7902.4+24%

606Logan, UTUT160,8892.4−25%

607Newport, TNTN37,8892.4−3%

608Pahrump, NVNV57,3362.4−10%

609Houma, LALA199,6682.4+18%

610Staunton, VAVA129,6922.4−5%

611Billings, MTMT193,6032.4−10%

612Plattsburgh, NYNY78,1382.4+16%

613Alexandria, LALA147,9522.4+10%

614Wilson, NCNC81,1502.4+2%

615Greensboro, NCNC805,9452.4−4%

616Lewisburg, PAPA42,3132.4+1%

617York, PAPA473,1972.4+2%

618Salisbury, MDMD131,8722.4+2%

619Fayetteville, NCNC395,4122.4+8%

620Tahlequah, OKOK49,1962.4+4%

621Somerset, KYKY67,3842.4+3%

622Fargo, NDND269,5282.4+2%

623Palm Bay, FLFL663,9822.4+12%

624Chambersburg, PAPA160,6522.4+4%

625Ketchikan, AKAK13,5492.4−22%

626Panama City, FLFL231,1742.4+5%

627Alamosa, COCO27,8962.4−9%

628Athens, OHOH63,1972.4−12%

629Steamboat Springs, COCO38,4512.4−36%

630Mountain Home, IDID29,4652.5−3%

631Palatka, FLFL77,7342.5+28%

632Vineland, NJNJ157,1482.5+8%

633Baton Rouge, LALA888,6992.5+4%

634Henderson, NCNC42,6382.5+9%

635Slidell, LALA279,1082.5+2%

636Syracuse, NYNY652,2732.5+21%

637Cortland, NYNY45,8502.5+15%

638Vermillion, SDSD15,0312.5−8%

639Kinston, NCNC55,8372.5+11%

640Astoria, OROR40,9262.5−35%

641Rochester, NYNY1,056,1492.5+16%

642Atlanta, GAGA6,482,1822.5−6%

643Clewiston, FLFL61,5462.5+42%

644Corbin, KYKY150,0402.5+7%

645Crestview, FLFL315,0982.5+6%

646Goldsboro, NCNC122,2782.5+9%

647The Villages, FLFL157,7722.5+7%

648Petoskey, MIMI33,7752.5−19%

649Lafayette, LALA423,7582.5+8%

650Orangeburg, SCSC83,1772.5+23%

651Lexington, KYKY535,1742.5−4%

652El Paso, TXTX881,2912.5+16%

653Daphne, ALAL267,7612.5−4%

654Troy, ALAL33,6882.5+10%

655Valdosta, GAGA153,2762.5+5%

656Cheyenne, WYWY102,9382.5−2%

657Scranton, PAPA574,4182.5−1%

658Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,8642.5−19%

659Natchez, MSMS54,7222.5+13%

660Brainerd, MNMN100,5622.5−10%

661Brenham, TXTX38,2882.5+8%

662Del Rio, TXTX47,8352.5+34%

663Sumter, SCSC105,0672.5+25%

664Cody, WYWY31,1712.5−15%

665Reading, PAPA440,0722.5+8%

666Nashville, TNTN2,197,4162.5−6%

667Okeechobee, FLFL42,6082.5+20%

668Great Falls, MTMT85,0292.5−7%

669Provo, UTUT773,4262.5−24%

670Elkins, WVWV26,8822.5+4%

671Alamogordo, NMNM70,3682.5+14%

672Forrest City, ARAR21,8002.5+31%

673New Bern, NCNC127,3582.5+8%

674Buffalo, NYNY1,155,6532.5+13%

675Alexandria, MNMN40,1202.6−5%

676Stillwater, OKOK83,8892.6+0%

677Amsterdam, NYNY50,0462.6+28%

678Denver, COCO3,092,0372.6−22%

679Tallahassee, FLFL397,4422.6+1%

680Gainesville, GAGA226,5682.6+3%

681Charleston, SCSC889,2632.6−2%

682Iowa City, IAIA182,7112.6−13%

683Lacey, WAWA304,2612.6−13%

684Murray, KYKY39,4212.6+0%

685Bloomington, ININ165,2312.6−16%

686Bangor, MEME157,9672.6+15%

687Athens, TXTX88,5952.6+36%

688Susanville, CACA28,1172.6−11%

689Eugene, OROR381,5842.6−30%

690Bend, OROR266,3762.6−20%

691Clarksdale, MSMS19,8492.6+20%

692Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,0832.6−1%

693Murrells Inlet, SCSC65,9122.6+10%

694Asheville, NCNC422,3452.6−8%

695Gettysburg, PAPA107,5942.6+2%

696Starkville, MSMS62,0632.6−7%

697Tuscaloosa, ALAL281,8502.6−2%

698Raleigh, NCNC1,595,7202.6−5%

699Selma, ALAL35,1402.6+7%

700Hot Springs, ARAR99,6952.6+7%

701Farmington, NMNM120,3402.6+15%

702Cordele, GAGA19,2372.6+8%

703Ann Arbor, MIMI370,2142.6−20%

704Waynesville, NCNC63,3692.6−0%

705Manhattan, KSKS136,1222.6+8%

706Greeley, COCO378,4262.6−18%

707Greenwood, MSMS34,9122.6+17%

708Grand Junction, COCO162,8452.6−17%

709Utica, NYNY285,6112.6+30%

710Montrose, COCO44,5912.6−17%

711Show Low, AZAZ109,9462.6+9%

712Binghamton, NYNY243,1892.7+31%

713Oxford, MSMS71,9722.7−1%

714Carbondale, ILIL52,5012.7+5%

715Baltimore, MDMD2,857,7812.7+5%

716Kalispell, MTMT115,4292.7−23%

717Jacksonville, NCNC217,1752.7+15%

718Sierra Vista, AZAZ126,3322.7+7%

719Orlando, FLFL2,957,6722.7+12%

720Corvallis, OROR97,7282.7−33%

721Austin, TXTX2,620,9452.7+7%

722Lawrence, KSKS120,9202.7−13%

723Shelton, WAWA71,1652.7−12%

724Lancaster, PAPA563,1592.7+3%

725Rexburg, IDID69,3802.7−5%

726Oneonta, NYNY60,5892.7+21%

727Sebastian, FLFL172,7992.7+16%

728Middlesborough, KYKY22,8292.7+23%

729Tampa, FLFL3,418,8952.7+19%

730Opelousas, LALA80,7652.7+14%

731Wilmington, NCNC492,7722.7−9%

732McComb, MSMS52,6402.7+19%

733Las Vegas, NMNM30,3112.7−13%

734Sevierville, TNTN101,3422.7−8%

735Yuma, AZAZ224,4492.7+20%

736Elizabeth City, NCNC42,2012.7+5%

737Laredo, TXTX281,2242.7+13%

738Hagerstown, MDMD315,2802.7+3%

739Blacksburg, VAVA181,6162.7−3%

740Hinesville, GAGA91,8702.7+27%

741Glens Falls, NYNY124,3732.7+20%

742Fredericksburg, TXTX28,5272.7−1%

743Safford, AZAZ40,1572.7+11%

744Cedar City, UTUT67,1412.7−17%

745Morgantown, WVWV141,9952.7+1%

746Cambridge, MDMD33,6282.7+6%

747Huntsville, TXTX83,8422.7+27%

748Cleveland, MSMS28,2622.7+25%

749Colorado Springs, COCO781,7962.7−11%

750Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,9382.7+3%

751Dover, DEDE194,7862.7+9%

752Statesboro, GAGA97,9772.7+4%

753Harrisonburg, VAVA140,1552.7−8%

754Ocala, FLFL442,6602.8+25%

755Hanford, CACA154,3272.8+2%

756Greenville, NCNC182,9362.8+11%

757Sebring, FLFL111,1222.8+35%

758Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,2132.8+10%

759Missoula, MTMT128,6982.8−25%

760Augusta, MEME129,0672.8+20%

761Branson, MOMO57,0012.8+6%

762Bremerton, WAWA283,3742.8−10%

763Heber, UTUT81,6552.8−33%

764Nacogdoches, TXTX66,0352.8+21%

765Payson, AZAZ53,8012.8−4%

766Wenatchee, WAWA128,4142.8−23%

767Mountain Home, ARAR42,9822.8+2%

768Moscow, IDID41,8422.8−23%

769Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1182.8+15%

770Morehead City, NCNC70,4692.8+1%

771Durham, NCNC625,4852.8−9%

772Fort Collins, COCO377,2922.8−18%

773Sandpoint, IDID54,4202.8−20%

774Pinehurst, NCNC110,6192.8+4%

775Deltona, FLFL746,9332.8+18%

776Pullman, WAWA48,5122.8−26%

777Mount Vernon, WAWA132,9752.8−21%

778Chicago, ILIL9,434,1232.9−6%

779Winchester, VAVA152,3322.9+12%

780State College, PAPA157,3932.9−5%

781Bakersfield, CACA927,0682.9+14%

782Lexington Park, MDMD211,1762.9+9%

783Fallon, NVNV25,8512.9+11%

784Brevard, NCNC34,2112.9+4%

785Ruston, LALA48,3602.9+8%

786New Orleans, LALA970,8492.9+5%

787Boulder, COCO328,5602.9−30%

788Cañon City, COCO50,0392.9−0%

789Gainesville, FLFL359,0362.9+8%

790Kerrville, TXTX54,0372.9+16%

791Athens, GAGA224,1482.9−4%

792Ellensburg, WAWA48,8032.9−29%

793Natchitoches, LALA36,0892.9+23%

794Cape Coral, FLFL875,6072.9+23%

795Auburn, ALAL208,0132.9+6%

796North Port, FLFL948,1583.0+14%

797Charlottesville, VAVA228,5973.0−4%

798Punta Gorda, FLFL217,2123.0+23%

799Deming, NMNM25,4073.0+18%

800Seaford, DEDE277,1403.0+17%

801Medford, OROR221,7953.0−18%

802Bozeman, MTMT128,7403.0−18%

803Albuquerque, NMNM925,2793.0−1%

804Miami, FLFL6,391,0723.0+8%

805Visalia, CACA485,1463.0+6%

806Ocean Pines, MDMD54,4593.0+5%

807Tucson, AZAZ1,074,6853.0+8%

808Barre, VTVT59,6523.0+17%

809Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,2263.0+2%

810Newport, OROR50,6363.0−28%

811Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,5513.0+16%

812Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,7213.0+25%

813Breckenridge, COCO39,0693.0−31%

814Hood River, OROR23,7203.0−23%

815Eagle Pass, TXTX58,8233.0+43%

816Hammond, LALA141,3463.1+23%

817Las Cruces, NMNM229,0913.1+23%

818College Station, TXTX287,4763.1+10%

819Red Bluff, CACA64,6653.1−1%

820Albany, NYNY915,8353.1+28%

821Port Angeles, WAWA78,2023.1−10%

822Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,6663.1+35%

823Lake Havasu City, AZAZ228,1023.1+24%

824Allentown, PAPA887,6153.1+20%

825Carson, NVNV58,5713.1−4%

826Española, NMNM39,8323.1+4%

827Burlington, VTVT227,8033.1+13%

828Fresno, CACA1,203,3833.1+5%

829Flagstaff, AZAZ144,3683.2−3%

830St. George, UTUT213,6703.2−10%

831Bellingham, WAWA236,3923.2−15%

832Lewiston, MEME116,4873.2+32%

833El Centro, CACA181,4113.2+9%

834Laramie, WYWY38,5583.2−16%

835Nogales, AZAZ50,0203.2+4%

836Yuba City, CACA187,4783.3+7%

837Atlantic City, NJNJ372,0473.3+14%

838Concord, NHNH158,0783.3+38%

839Durango, COCO56,8983.3−24%

840Trenton, NJNJ399,2893.3+31%

841Rutland, VTVT59,6533.3+26%

842Lebanon, NHNH224,5003.3+33%

843Monticello, NYNY80,5863.4+38%

844Kingston, NYNY183,3303.4+29%

845Manchester, NHNH433,4153.4+34%

846Ithaca, NYNY104,0473.4+32%

847Bennington, VTVT36,6303.4+21%

848Gardnerville Ranchos, NVNV51,1543.4+2%

849Reno, NVNV578,7343.4+8%

850Hailey, IDID32,4363.5−29%

851Hudson, NYNY60,1683.5+31%

852Santa Fe, NMNM156,9073.5−13%

853Washington, DCDC6,465,7243.5+23%

854Brattleboro, VTVT45,2043.5+19%

855Ruidoso, NMNM19,8443.5+30%

856Keene, NHNH78,2693.5+43%

857Merced, CACA297,2603.5+13%

858Port Townsend, WAWA33,9703.5−15%

859Seattle, WAWA4,161,8833.5−9%

860Oak Harbor, WAWA85,6573.6−4%

861Grants Pass, OROR87,8673.6−7%

862Redding, CACA181,6483.6+8%

863Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,9663.6+4%

864Portland, MEME577,6353.6+25%

865Boone, NCNC54,7863.6−9%

866Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,3773.6+29%

867Naples, FLFL417,1313.6+16%

868East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,1793.6+34%

869Laconia, NHNH65,1473.6+51%

870Edwards, COCO54,2913.7−24%

871Easton, MDMD38,2383.7+5%

872Brookings, OROR22,6213.7−12%

873Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,2453.7+22%

874Hilo, HIHI210,0433.7−4%

875Eureka, CACA131,6473.8−9%

876Greenfield, MAMA70,6983.8+26%

877Crescent City, CACA26,4103.8+10%

878Pittsfield, MAMA128,2243.8+27%

879Vallejo, CACA455,3763.8+16%

880Jackson, WYWY36,5873.9−32%

881Prescott Valley, AZAZ252,5523.9+18%

882Hemlock Farms, PAPA62,8083.9+48%

883Worcester, MAMA888,5023.9+31%

884Stockton, CACA823,8153.9+16%

885Springfield, MAMA464,3383.9+38%

886Amherst, MAMA164,0653.9+27%

887Riverside, CACA4,769,0074.0+31%

888Chico, CACA209,2114.1+13%

889Modesto, CACA557,7194.1+34%

890Sacramento, CACA2,477,2744.2+22%

891Taos, NMNM34,5644.2−9%

892Providence, RIRI1,708,1614.2+33%

893Boston, MAMA5,034,2214.3+13%

894Clearlake, CACA67,7724.4+23%

895Sonora, CACA53,1604.5+22%

896Kapaa, HIHI73,4004.5−5%

897Ukiah, CACA88,1224.7+2%

898Truckee, CACA101,9114.8+10%

899Bishop, CACA18,1584.9+32%

900Napa, CACA132,9495.0+6%

901Key West, FLFL80,4065.0+9%

902Barnstable, MAMA233,5395.1+32%

903Kahului, HIHI160,6745.2+5%

904San Diego, CACA3,282,2485.3+18%

905Oxnard, CACA830,8515.3+33%

906Santa Rosa, CACA486,4445.5+11%

907New York, NYNY20,112,4485.6+29%

908Salinas, CACA433,7295.9+11%

909San Jose, CACA1,984,4736.0+5%

910Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4416.2+33%

911Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,2196.2−11%

912San Francisco, CACA4,630,0416.5+15%

913Rifle, COCO80,0996.6+25%

914San Luis Obispo, CACA282,3676.8+33%

915Santa Cruz, CACA258,8526.9+5%

916Honolulu, HIHI988,7036.9+31%

917Santa Maria, CACA442,0657.0+23%

918Nantucket, MAMA14,7587.3−31%

SHOWING 501–918 OF 918

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Download CSV (full list, 918 rows)How this score is calculated

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES