The States Defying America’s Housing Crisis
Summary
The Midwest region of the United States remains the most affordable place to buy a home, according to a Newsweek analysis. While home prices have risen sharply across the country since the pandemic, Midwestern states have seen smaller increases, making homeownership more reachable there compared to expensive coastal areas.Key Facts
- Newsweek analyzed 33,772 U.S. ZIP codes to measure housing affordability using data on home prices, rents, and ownership rates.
- The Midwest dominates the list of the 10 states where buying a home is most affordable, with 8 states in the top 10.
- Iowa ranks highest with a housing score of 52.0, followed by West Virginia, South Dakota, and Indiana.
- Coastal states like California, New York, and Massachusetts have much lower housing scores, indicating less affordable housing.
- The affordability in the Midwest is partly because fewer people want to move there due to limited job opportunities, which keeps demand and prices lower.
- Home prices nationwide rose about 51% between 2019 and 2025, but the Northeast saw the highest increase at nearly 66%.
- Median home prices in Midwestern states like Iowa and Ohio remain below $300,000, compared to over $400,000 in many coastal states.
- Although home prices have increased in the Midwest, they started from a much lower base than in expensive coastal areas, making homes still relatively affordable there.
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