How much income you need to buy a home, by state
The short version
At the median U.S. listing price of $430,000, a household needs about $115,356 a year to buy comfortably at today's 6.49% 30-year rate — keeping the payment within the 28% rule. The bar ranges from roughly $65,757 in West Virginia to $207,006 in Massachusetts.
Income needed to buy a home, by state
| Rank | State | Median price | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $759,500 | $4,830 | $207,006 |
| 2 | New York | $689,000 | $4,680 | $200,586 |
| 3 | California | $749,450 | $4,510 | $193,292 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $608,750 | $4,262 | $182,659 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $739,500 | $4,191 | $179,634 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $575,000 | $4,189 | $179,514 |
| 7 | Washington | $650,000 | $3,998 | $171,357 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $599,900 | $3,945 | $169,076 |
| 9 | Montana | $649,950 | $3,928 | $168,326 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $549,900 | $3,800 | $162,840 |
| 11 | Idaho | $599,900 | $3,570 | $153,008 |
| 12 | Oregon | $565,000 | $3,504 | $150,160 |
| 13 | Vermont | $499,000 | $3,469 | $148,658 |
| 14 | Utah | $582,450 | $3,437 | $147,309 |
| 15 | Colorado | $577,000 | $3,367 | $144,282 |
| 16 | Maine | $469,000 | $3,030 | $129,838 |
| 17 | Delaware | $499,450 | $2,952 | $126,495 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $499,000 | $2,936 | $125,847 |
| 19 | Nevada | $492,500 | $2,898 | $124,207 |
| 20 | Virginia | $470,000 | $2,872 | $123,065 |
| 21 | Alaska | $450,000 | $2,832 | $121,364 |
| 22 | Arizona | $474,950 | $2,827 | $121,138 |
| 23 | Maryland | $439,000 | $2,755 | $118,084 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $399,900 | $2,673 | $114,565 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $435,500 | $2,603 | $111,543 |
| 26 | Florida | $423,900 | $2,590 | $110,994 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $419,000 | $2,553 | $109,412 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $399,900 | $2,530 | $108,423 |
| 29 | Texas | $365,868 | $2,482 | $106,383 |
| 30 | Georgia | $399,598 | $2,465 | $105,630 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $406,975 | $2,449 | $104,964 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $383,850 | $2,448 | $104,894 |
| 33 | Illinois | $329,900 | $2,354 | $100,873 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $350,000 | $2,348 | $100,644 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $365,000 | $2,279 | $97,658 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $369,000 | $2,174 | $93,193 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $325,000 | $2,159 | $92,527 |
| 38 | Michigan | $310,575 | $2,035 | $87,200 |
| 39 | Ohio | $297,500 | $1,991 | $85,335 |
| 40 | Alabama | $339,950 | $1,958 | $83,914 |
| 41 | Kansas | $300,000 | $1,958 | $83,909 |
| 42 | Iowa | $289,900 | $1,935 | $82,948 |
| 43 | Missouri | $310,000 | $1,933 | $82,831 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $314,900 | $1,927 | $82,566 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $322,950 | $1,919 | $82,255 |
| 46 | Indiana | $305,000 | $1,866 | $79,970 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $299,900 | $1,850 | $79,276 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $299,900 | $1,815 | $77,776 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $275,000 | $1,618 | $69,354 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $260,000 | $1,534 | $65,757 |
Median listing price: Realtor.com via FRED (July 10, 2026). Property tax: Tax Foundation effective rates. Payment includes principal, interest, property tax and estimated insurance at 20% down. Income = payment ÷ 0.28.
Prices and taxes both drive the number
A high income bar comes from one of two things — or both. Some states are expensive because homes simply cost more; others because property taxes pile onto the payment. Massachusetts tops the list at $207,006, while West Virginia sits lowest at $65,757. That's why two states with similar home prices can require very different incomes.
These are benchmarks, not quotes. Your real number depends on your down payment, credit, other debts and the exact home. Put in your own figures with the affordability calculator, find the salary a specific payment requires with the required-income calculator, or see local rates and assistance on any state rates page.
Frequently asked
How much income do you need to buy a home in the U.S.?
At the median U.S. listing price of $430,000 with 20% down at today's 6.49% 30-year rate, a household needs roughly $115,356 a year to keep the payment within the standard 28% rule — about $2,692 a month including taxes and insurance. The figure ranges from about $65,757 in West Virginia to $207,006 in Massachusetts.
What is the 28% rule?
A common affordability guideline: your total monthly housing payment — principal, interest, property taxes and insurance — should stay at or below 28% of your gross monthly income.
Lenders also look at your total debts (the 36–43% back-end ratio), but the 28% front-end rule is the quickest way to compare markets.
Do these numbers assume a down payment?
Yes — 20% down, which avoids private mortgage insurance. A smaller down payment lowers the income you need up front but raises the monthly payment (and usually adds PMI), so the income required can actually rise. Model your own down payment in our calculators.
Why is the income needed so different by state?
Two things drive the gap: home prices and property-tax rates. A state can be expensive because homes cost more (Hawaii, California) or because property taxes are high (New Jersey, Illinois).
This table combines both, using each state's median listing price and effective property-tax rate.