Which metro area has the lowest afford score?

Ottumwa, IA ranks #1 with 1.3 (1990 Decennial Census).

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 Decennial Census 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, 1990 Decennial Census.

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 (1990 ACS).

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

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS –

501Toccoa, GAGA27,8542.3–

502Salem, OROR445,8142.3–

503Danville, KYKY56,9852.3–

504Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,8582.3–

505Mankato, MNMN104,9072.3–

506Bloomsburg, PAPA66,1932.3–

507Roanoke Rapids, NCNC63,0252.3–

508Charlotte, NCNC2,938,8302.3–

509Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,0102.3–

510Spokane, WAWA608,0122.3–

511Huntsville, ALAL556,4442.3–

512Madison, WIWI709,6852.3–

513Klamath Falls, OROR70,2742.3–

514Cookeville, TNTN152,4772.3–

515Boise City, IDID864,2432.3–

516Watertown, SDSD29,5622.3–

517Bismarck, NDND139,7502.3–

518Springfield, MOMO500,6942.3–

519Elizabethtown, KYKY128,6662.3–

520Jackson, MSMS609,8472.3–

521Anderson Creek, NCNC150,1372.3–

522Pensacola, FLFL544,9492.3–

523Roanoke, VAVA316,5472.3–

524Faribault, MNMN69,9392.3–

525Watertown, NYNY111,5402.3–

526Helena, MTMT97,1532.3–

527Columbus, GAGA324,8302.3–

528Lynchburg, VAVA269,1692.3–

529Mobile, ALAL411,6582.3–

530Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,5002.3–

531Tyler, TXTX252,5492.3–

532Lewiston, IDID65,4502.3–

533Sanford, NCNC70,2582.3–

534Walla Walla, WAWA62,3612.3–

535Richmond, VAVA1,389,3382.3–

536Traverse City, MIMI156,9722.3–

537Rocky Mount, NCNC148,4862.3–

538Columbus, OHOH2,242,0282.3–

539Knoxville, TNTN968,1372.3–

540Brookings, SDSD37,6352.3–

541Savannah, GAGA438,3142.3–

542Gallipolis, OHOH29,0722.3–

543Fayetteville, ARAR622,1772.3–

544Portland, OROR2,542,2822.3–

545Yakima, WAWA259,1852.3–

546Riverton, WYWY39,4642.3–

547Fairbanks, AKAK93,9722.3–

548Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,4422.3–

549Gallup, NMNM68,1192.3–

550Los Alamos, NMNM19,4072.3–

551Granbury, TXTX70,5012.3–

552Morgan City, LALA46,5522.3–

553Winston-Salem, NCNC712,2062.3–

554Bemidji, MNMN47,0552.3–

555Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,3772.3–

556Bogalusa, LALA44,9372.3–

557Columbia, SCSC879,9182.3–

558Albany, GAGA145,5102.3–

559Centralia, WAWA88,0622.3–

560Pikeville, KYKY89,1222.3–

561Moses Lake, WAWA105,7272.3–

562Charleston, WVWV200,1702.3–

563Silver City, NMNM27,2522.3–

564Gloversville, NYNY52,2162.3–

565Sheridan, WYWY33,2412.3–

566Dallas, TXTX8,477,1572.3–

567Pueblo, COCO169,2772.3–

568Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,6912.3–

569Grand Forks, NDND105,0462.3–

570Greenville, MSMS40,4462.3–

571Harrisburg, PAPA617,4272.4–

572Johnson City, TNTN216,4162.4–

573Kingsland, GAGA60,1432.4–

574Detroit Lakes, MNMN35,4972.4–

575Richmond, KYKY131,8062.4–

576Clovis, NMNM65,2702.4–

577Cornelia, GAGA50,4162.4–

578Big Rapids, MIMI42,3202.4–

579Cleveland, OHOH2,165,7752.4–

580Roseburg, OROR111,9512.4–

581Burlington, NCNC186,1772.4–

582Bluefield, WVWV96,1382.4–

583Killeen, TXTX511,4972.4–

584Crossville, TNTN66,3002.4–

585Stephenville, TXTX43,9112.4–

586New Iberia, LALA66,8462.4–

587Zapata, TXTX13,7532.4–

588North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,2332.4–

589Memphis, TNTN1,341,4122.4–

590Washington, NCNC44,6702.4–

591Juneau city and, AKAK31,6092.4–

592Monroe, LALA222,3902.4–

593Elko, NVNV56,6822.4–

594Warrensburg, MOMO56,6702.4–

595Columbia, MOMO219,0622.4–

596Brookhaven, MSMS35,0122.4–

597Vidalia, GAGA36,1802.4–

598Anchorage, AKAK405,8212.4–

599Lebanon, PAPA146,3802.4–

600Arcadia, FLFL37,0782.4–

601Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,2952.4–

602Hattiesburg, MSMS158,0142.4–

603Shreveport, LALA383,4742.4–

604Logan, UTUT160,8892.4–

605Lakeland, FLFL874,7902.4–

606Newport, TNTN37,8892.4–

607Champaign, ILIL239,9792.4–

608Pahrump, NVNV57,3362.4–

609Greensboro, NCNC805,9452.4–

610Houma, LALA199,6682.4–

611Billings, MTMT193,6032.4–

612Staunton, VAVA129,6922.4–

613Plattsburgh, NYNY78,1382.4–

614Alexandria, LALA147,9522.4–

615Wilson, NCNC81,1502.4–

616Salisbury, MDMD131,8722.4–

617Lewisburg, PAPA42,3132.4–

618Fayetteville, NCNC395,4122.4–

619York, PAPA473,1972.4–

620Panama City, FLFL231,1742.4–

621Fargo, NDND269,5282.4–

622Tahlequah, OKOK49,1962.4–

623Somerset, KYKY67,3842.4–

624Palm Bay, FLFL663,9822.4–

625Chambersburg, PAPA160,6522.4–

626Ketchikan, AKAK13,5492.4–

627Athens, OHOH63,1972.4–

628Steamboat Springs, COCO38,4512.5–

629Mountain Home, IDID29,4652.5–

630Palatka, FLFL77,7342.5–

631Vineland, NJNJ157,1482.5–

632Syracuse, NYNY652,2732.5–

633Henderson, NCNC42,6382.5–

634Alamosa, COCO27,8962.5–

635Baton Rouge, LALA888,6992.5–

636Slidell, LALA279,1082.5–

637Cortland, NYNY45,8502.5–

638Rochester, NYNY1,056,1492.5–

639Vermillion, SDSD15,0312.5–

640Kinston, NCNC55,8372.5–

641Astoria, OROR40,9262.5–

642Crestview, FLFL315,0982.5–

643Lafayette, LALA423,7582.5–

644Corbin, KYKY150,0402.5–

645Goldsboro, NCNC122,2782.5–

646The Villages, FLFL157,7722.5–

647Petoskey, MIMI33,7752.5–

648Clewiston, FLFL61,5462.5–

649Valdosta, GAGA153,2762.5–

650Orangeburg, SCSC83,1772.5–

651Lexington, KYKY535,1742.5–

652El Paso, TXTX881,2912.5–

653Atlanta, GAGA6,482,1822.5–

654Nashville, TNTN2,197,4162.5–

655Daphne, ALAL267,7612.5–

656Troy, ALAL33,6882.5–

657Scranton, PAPA574,4182.5–

658Cheyenne, WYWY102,9382.5–

659Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,8642.5–

660Brenham, TXTX38,2882.5–

661Del Rio, TXTX47,8352.5–

662Sumter, SCSC105,0672.5–

663Cody, WYWY31,1712.5–

664Reading, PAPA440,0722.5–

665Brainerd, MNMN100,5622.5–

666Tallahassee, FLFL397,4422.5–

667Okeechobee, FLFL42,6082.5–

668Great Falls, MTMT85,0292.5–

669Provo, UTUT773,4262.5–

670New Bern, NCNC127,3582.5–

671Elkins, WVWV26,8822.5–

672Alamogordo, NMNM70,3682.5–

673Forrest City, ARAR21,8002.5–

674Buffalo, NYNY1,155,6532.5–

675Alexandria, MNMN40,1202.6–

676Stillwater, OKOK83,8892.6–

677Amsterdam, NYNY50,0462.6–

678Natchez, MSMS54,7222.6–

679Gainesville, GAGA226,5682.6–

680Iowa City, IAIA182,7112.6–

681Bloomington, ININ165,2312.6–

682Charleston, SCSC889,2632.6–

683Lacey, WAWA304,2612.6–

684Murray, KYKY39,4212.6–

685Bend, OROR266,3762.6–

686Bangor, MEME157,9672.6–

687Athens, TXTX88,5952.6–

688Susanville, CACA28,1172.6–

689Raleigh, NCNC1,595,7202.6–

690Baltimore, MDMD2,857,7812.6–

691Eugene, OROR381,5842.6–

692Clarksdale, MSMS19,8492.6–

693Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,0832.6–

694Asheville, NCNC422,3452.6–

695Starkville, MSMS62,0632.6–

696Tuscaloosa, ALAL281,8502.6–

697Murrells Inlet, SCSC65,9122.6–

698Gettysburg, PAPA107,5942.6–

699Denver, COCO3,092,0372.6–

700Selma, ALAL35,1402.6–

701Hot Springs, ARAR99,6952.6–

702Farmington, NMNM120,3402.6–

703Cordele, GAGA19,2372.6–

704Ann Arbor, MIMI370,2142.6–

705Waynesville, NCNC63,3692.6–

706Greeley, COCO378,4262.6–

707Utica, NYNY285,6112.6–

708Oxford, MSMS71,9722.6–

709Grand Junction, COCO162,8452.6–

710Montrose, COCO44,5912.6–

711Greenwood, MSMS34,9122.6–

712Show Low, AZAZ109,9462.6–

713Manhattan, KSKS136,1222.7–

714Binghamton, NYNY243,1892.7–

715Carbondale, ILIL52,5012.7–

716Kalispell, MTMT115,4292.7–

717Jacksonville, NCNC217,1752.7–

718Sierra Vista, AZAZ126,3322.7–

719Corvallis, OROR97,7282.7–

720Lawrence, KSKS120,9202.7–

721Shelton, WAWA71,1652.7–

722Orlando, FLFL2,957,6722.7–

723Lancaster, PAPA563,1592.7–

724Las Vegas, NMNM30,3112.7–

725Oneonta, NYNY60,5892.7–

726Austin, TXTX2,620,9452.7–

727Sebastian, FLFL172,7992.7–

728Rexburg, IDID69,3802.7–

729Middlesborough, KYKY22,8292.7–

730Opelousas, LALA80,7652.7–

731Sevierville, TNTN101,3422.7–

732Yuma, AZAZ224,4492.7–

733Elizabeth City, NCNC42,2012.7–

734McComb, MSMS52,6402.7–

735Laredo, TXTX281,2242.7–

736Tampa, FLFL3,418,8952.7–

737Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1182.7–

738Wilmington, NCNC492,7722.7–

739Hagerstown, MDMD315,2802.7–

740Hinesville, GAGA91,8702.7–

741Glens Falls, NYNY124,3732.7–

742Morgantown, WVWV141,9952.7–

743Fredericksburg, TXTX28,5272.7–

744Blacksburg, VAVA181,6162.7–

745Safford, AZAZ40,1572.7–

746Cedar City, UTUT67,1412.7–

747Cambridge, MDMD33,6282.7–

748Huntsville, TXTX83,8422.7–

749Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,9382.7–

750Cleveland, MSMS28,2622.7–

751Colorado Springs, COCO781,7962.7–

752Statesboro, GAGA97,9772.7–

753Dover, DEDE194,7862.7–

754Ocala, FLFL442,6602.8–

755Hanford, CACA154,3272.8–

756Heber, UTUT81,6552.8–

757Greenville, NCNC182,9362.8–

758Sebring, FLFL111,1222.8–

759Missoula, MTMT128,6982.8–

760Augusta, MEME129,0672.8–

761Branson, MOMO57,0012.8–

762Bremerton, WAWA283,3742.8–

763Harrisonburg, VAVA140,1552.8–

764Nacogdoches, TXTX66,0352.8–

765Payson, AZAZ53,8012.8–

766Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,2132.8–

767Mountain Home, ARAR42,9822.8–

768Moscow, IDID41,8422.8–

769Wenatchee, WAWA128,4142.8–

770Morehead City, NCNC70,4692.8–

771Durham, NCNC625,4852.8–

772Fort Collins, COCO377,2922.8–

773Deltona, FLFL746,9332.8–

774Sandpoint, IDID54,4202.8–

775Pinehurst, NCNC110,6192.8–

776Pullman, WAWA48,5122.8–

777Mount Vernon, WAWA132,9752.8–

778Winchester, VAVA152,3322.9–

779Chicago, ILIL9,434,1232.9–

780State College, PAPA157,3932.9–

781Bakersfield, CACA927,0682.9–

782Fallon, NVNV25,8512.9–

783Brevard, NCNC34,2112.9–

784Lexington Park, MDMD211,1762.9–

785Gainesville, FLFL359,0362.9–

786Ruston, LALA48,3602.9–

787Boulder, COCO328,5602.9–

788Cañon City, COCO50,0392.9–

789Kerrville, TXTX54,0372.9–

790Breckenridge, COCO39,0692.9–

791Ellensburg, WAWA48,8032.9–

792Auburn, ALAL208,0132.9–

793Natchitoches, LALA36,0892.9–

794Cape Coral, FLFL875,6072.9–

795North Port, FLFL948,1583.0–

796Punta Gorda, FLFL217,2123.0–

797Charlottesville, VAVA228,5973.0–

798Deming, NMNM25,4073.0–

799Seaford, DEDE277,1403.0–

800Medford, OROR221,7953.0–

801Bozeman, MTMT128,7403.0–

802Albuquerque, NMNM925,2793.0–

803Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,7213.0–

804Miami, FLFL6,391,0723.0–

805Visalia, CACA485,1463.0–

806Athens, GAGA224,1483.0–

807Ocean Pines, MDMD54,4593.0–

808Tucson, AZAZ1,074,6853.0–

809Barre, VTVT59,6523.0–

810Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,2263.0–

811New Orleans, LALA970,8493.0–

812Newport, OROR50,6363.0–

813Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,5513.0–

814Hood River, OROR23,7203.0–

815Eagle Pass, TXTX58,8233.0–

816College Station, TXTX287,4763.0–

817Hammond, LALA141,3463.1–

818Las Cruces, NMNM229,0913.1–

819Red Bluff, CACA64,6653.1–

820Albany, NYNY915,8353.1–

821Port Angeles, WAWA78,2023.1–

822Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,6663.1–

823Allentown, PAPA887,6153.1–

824Lake Havasu City, AZAZ228,1023.1–

825Burlington, VTVT227,8033.1–

826Carson, NVNV58,5713.1–

827Española, NMNM39,8323.1–

828Fresno, CACA1,203,3833.1–

829Flagstaff, AZAZ144,3683.2–

830St. George, UTUT213,6703.2–

831Bellingham, WAWA236,3923.2–

832Lewiston, MEME116,4873.2–

833El Centro, CACA181,4113.2–

834Laramie, WYWY38,5583.2–

835Nogales, AZAZ50,0203.2–

836Yuba City, CACA187,4783.3–

837Concord, NHNH158,0783.3–

838Atlantic City, NJNJ372,0473.3–

839Durango, COCO56,8983.3–

840Trenton, NJNJ399,2893.3–

841Rutland, VTVT59,6533.3–

842Hailey, IDID32,4363.3–

843Lebanon, NHNH224,5003.3–

844Monticello, NYNY80,5863.4–

845Kingston, NYNY183,3303.4–

846Manchester, NHNH433,4153.4–

847Ithaca, NYNY104,0473.4–

848Bennington, VTVT36,6303.4–

849Reno, NVNV578,7343.4–

850Gardnerville Ranchos, NVNV51,1543.5–

851Hudson, NYNY60,1683.5–

852Santa Fe, NMNM156,9073.5–

853Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,9663.5–

854Brattleboro, VTVT45,2043.5–

855Washington, DCDC6,465,7243.5–

856Ruidoso, NMNM19,8443.5–

857Keene, NHNH78,2693.5–

858Seattle, WAWA4,161,8833.5–

859Merced, CACA297,2603.5–

860Port Townsend, WAWA33,9703.5–

861Oak Harbor, WAWA85,6573.6–

862Grants Pass, OROR87,8673.6–

863Redding, CACA181,6483.6–

864Portland, MEME577,6353.6–

865Boone, NCNC54,7863.6–

866Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,3773.6–

867Naples, FLFL417,1313.6–

868East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,1793.6–

869Laconia, NHNH65,1473.6–

870Edwards, COCO54,2913.7–

871Easton, MDMD38,2383.7–

872Brookings, OROR22,6213.7–

873Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,2453.7–

874Hilo, HIHI210,0433.7–

875Eureka, CACA131,6473.8–

876Greenfield, MAMA70,6983.8–

877Crescent City, CACA26,4103.8–

878Pittsfield, MAMA128,2243.8–

879Vallejo, CACA455,3763.8–

880Jackson, WYWY36,5873.8–

881Prescott Valley, AZAZ252,5523.9–

882Hemlock Farms, PAPA62,8083.9–

883Worcester, MAMA888,5023.9–

884Stockton, CACA823,8153.9–

885Springfield, MAMA464,3383.9–

886Amherst, MAMA164,0653.9–

887Riverside, CACA4,769,0074.0–

888Chico, CACA209,2114.1–

889Modesto, CACA557,7194.1–

890Sacramento, CACA2,477,2744.2–

891Taos, NMNM34,5644.2–

892Providence, RIRI1,708,1614.2–

893Clearlake, CACA67,7724.4–

894Boston, MAMA5,034,2214.4–

895Sonora, CACA53,1604.5–

896Kapaa, HIHI73,4004.5–

897Ukiah, CACA88,1224.7–

898Truckee, CACA101,9114.8–

899Bishop, CACA18,1584.9–

900Napa, CACA132,9495.0–

901Key West, FLFL80,4065.0–

902Barnstable, MAMA233,5395.1–

903Kahului, HIHI160,6745.1–

904San Diego, CACA3,282,2485.3–

905Oxnard, CACA830,8515.3–

906Santa Rosa, CACA486,4445.5–

907Salinas, CACA433,7295.9–

908Rifle, COCO80,0995.9–

909San Jose, CACA1,984,4736.0–

910New York, NYNY20,112,4486.1–

911Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,2196.2–

912Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4416.2–

913San Francisco, CACA4,630,0416.6–

914San Luis Obispo, CACA282,3676.8–

915Santa Cruz, CACA258,8526.9–

916Honolulu, HIHI988,7036.9–

917Santa Maria, CACA442,0657.0–

918Nantucket, MAMA14,7587.3–

SHOWING 501–918 OF 918

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

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS