What states are most expensive to buy a home?

The most expensive states to buy a house consistently include Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts, often followed by Washington, Colorado, and New Jersey, with Hawaii frequently topping the list due to high demand, limited land, and high import costs for goods. These states face high median home prices, often driven by supply shortages, job markets, and desirable locations, making housing unaffordable for a significant portion of residents.

What's the most expensive state to buy a house?

Hawaii and California consistently rank as the most expensive states for buying a house, with Hawaii often taking the top spot due to limited land, high demand, and imported costs, while California leads in sheer volume of expensive markets, driven by tech hubs and coastal allure, though some recent data points to California as #1 for median sale price, depending on the source. Other top contenders include Massachusetts, Washington, and Colorado, known for strong economies and desirable locations. 

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

Below is a detailed breakdown of the ten most affordable states to live in 2025:

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What state has the most overpriced housing market?

California consistently ranks as the state with the highest housing costs in the U.S., driven by high demand and limited supply, with median home prices often exceeding $800,000, though Hawaii sometimes rivals or surpasses it depending on the data source and time period, often due to land scarcity and island logistics. Other states like Massachusetts and Colorado also feature high housing costs, but California leads in overall expense and the percentage of residents cost-burdened by housing. 

What state has the most unaffordable housing?

Key Points (2025)

Best price-to-income ratios: West Virginia shows a 2.9 ratio, Iowa comes in at 3.0, and Kansas sits at 3.2, offering the most balanced housing costs relative to local incomes. On the opposite end, Hawaii at 8.8 and California at 8.2 represent the least affordable markets in the nation.

🏡 Top 5 Most Expensive States to Buy a Home in 2025! 💸

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities, but recent studies from WalletHub (Aug 2025) and U.S. News (May 2025) frequently place Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, and Utah at the top for overall quality of life, balancing strong economies, good education, healthcare, and low crime. Massachusetts excels in education/healthcare, while Idaho and Utah are praised for economic growth and stability, and New Hampshire for safety. 

Where is it hardest to afford a home?

Hong Kong remains the world's least affordable housing market with a median multiple of 14.4, meaning typical homes cost more than 14 times the median household income.

What US city is selling homes for $1?

Louisville, KY, is trying a new approach to neighborhood revival: selling $1 homes in blighted areas. The city hopes new owners will restore the properties and bring life back to these communities. The program, run by Louisville's Landbank Authority, focuses on putting vacant and abandoned homes back into use.

What state has the highest cost of living?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the U.S. state with the highest cost of living, driven by expensive housing, high grocery prices (due to shipping), and costly utilities, followed closely by states like Massachusetts, California, and Alaska, which also face high transportation and import costs. 

What is the 3-3-3 rule in real estate?

The "3-3-3 rule" in real estate isn't one single rule but refers to different guidelines for buyers, agents, and investors, often focusing on financial readiness or marketing habits, such as having 3 months' savings/mortgage cushion, evaluating 3 properties/years, or agents making 3 calls/notes/resources monthly to stay connected without being pushy. Another popular version is the 30/30/3 rule for buyers: less than 30% of income for mortgage, 30% of home value for down payment/closing costs, and max home price 3x annual income. 

What is the happiest state to live in?

According to WalletHub's 2025 study, Hawaii is the happiest state in the U.S., ranking first for its strong emotional/physical well-being, work environment, and community/environment factors, with residents showing high life satisfaction, low depression, and long life expectancy, followed by Maryland and Nebraska in the top three. 

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the US?

The cheapest, best places to live in the U.S. often involve the Midwest and South, with cities like Wichita (KS), Fort Wayne (IN), Dayton (OH), and Knoxville (TN) offering low housing costs and good value, while states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Oklahoma consistently rank as most affordable overall. Key factors are low housing prices and a cost of living significantly below the national average, with some top contenders being Decatur (IL), Enid (OK), and Brownsville (TX), but "best" depends on balancing budget with lifestyle needs like jobs, culture, and amenities. 

Which states have no state income tax?

As of 2025, there are nine states that don't collect any state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

What state has the nicest homes?

There's no single "best" state for houses, as it depends on your priorities (affordability, investment, luxury, lifestyle), but Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are top for overall market health; Florida & California for valuable markets; Montana & Nevada for investment potential; and states like Indiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania for affordability, with each offering unique housing environments from coastal luxury to affordable family homes. 

What is the #1 most expensive city in the US?

The income you need to live comfortably in the 10 most expensive U.S. cities—it's over $200,000 in No. 1

• San Diego. ...
• Los Angeles. ...
• New York City. ...
• Long Beach, California. ...
• Seattle, Washington. ...
• Boston. ...
• Oakland, California. Average single-family home value: $797,148. ...
• Washington, D.C. Average single-family home value: $749,377.

Which states have the highest property taxes?

In calendar year 2023 (the most recent data available), New Jersey had the highest effective rate on owner-occupied property at 2.23 percent, followed by Illinois (2.07 percent) and Connecticut (1.92 percent).

Which state is most unaffordable?

California is generally considered the most unaffordable state due to extremely high housing costs, driving up overall expenses, though Hawaii often leads in housing expense relative to income, and states like Montana also face severe affordability crises due to housing shortages and population influx. Rankings vary slightly depending on the metric (cost of living, housing cost vs. income, monthly bills), but California consistently ranks near the very bottom for affordability.
 

What state has the friendliest people?

While subjective, studies and surveys consistently rank Minnesota, Tennessee, and South Carolina as some of the friendliest U.S. states, often followed by Texas and Wyoming, with general "Southern hospitality" and Midwest politeness often cited, though perceptions of "niceness" (like Minnesota's reserved style) can vary.
 

What is the best state to live in financially?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on your priorities (low taxes vs. high wages), but Washington, Texas, Florida, Utah, and New Hampshire consistently rank high due to no income tax, strong economies, or low cost of living, with states like Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee offering very affordable options if budget is key. Key factors are state income tax, housing costs, job market strength, and overall affordability. 

What state got the cheapest houses?

The cheapest states to buy a house consistently include West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa, offering median home prices well below the national average, with states like West Virginia and Mississippi often topping lists for affordability due to low median sale prices and overall lower cost of living.
 

Is it legal to buy a house for $1?

Giving someone a house as a gift — or selling it to them for $1 — is legally equivalent to selling it to them at fair market value. The home is now the property of the giftee and they may do with it as they wish.

Where are the cheapest luxury homes in the US?

The number of major metros where you can buy a luxury home for less than $1 million has shrunk from 30 to seven since 2020. Detroit is the most affordable metro for luxury homes, with a median price of $753,851—44.1% less than the typical luxury home nationwide.

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the world?

The "best and cheapest" place is subjective, but top contenders for affordability with good quality of life include Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An), Portugal (less expensive regions), Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia (Bali), and parts of Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia, North Macedonia), offering low costs for living, food, and rent, often under $1,500/month for a couple, balancing culture, safety, and natural beauty. 

Do millionaires rent or buy houses?

Key Takeaways. The number of millionaire renter households grew significantly from 4,500 in 2019 to 13,700 in 2023. For many wealthy households, renting is less about cost and more about flexibility, lifestyle, and keeping money stashed in other investments.

What house can I afford at $70,000 a year?

Most buyers who earn $70,000 a year can qualify for houses priced between $210,000 and $290,000. But every borrower is unique. Your exact borrowing power depends on several key factors that lenders evaluate during the mortgage approval process.