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Homebuyers with low budgets are increasingly gravitating to markets where their dollars can stretch the most.
Many attractive metro areas still offer median home prices below $300,000 – well below the $425,000 national median. These areas offer affordable ways to own a home without sacrificing the lifestyle or convenience of big cities, according to Realtor.com.
“In these markets, home prices are more in line with median income, allowing the average family to afford the average home for sale,” said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. “The existence of these affordable areas, even if they are limited, provides encouraging news for buyers who are committed to buying in one of these regions.”
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Here are the top 10 desirable metros where home buyers can still find prices under $300,000:
Muncie, Indiana
Photo “Passing of the Buffalo” in Muncie, Indiana. (Getty Images)
Median list price: $184,900
Median household income: $56,828
Muncie, located about an hour from Indianapolis, is home to Ball State University and outdoor attractions including the 750-acre Prairie Creek Reservoir.
Toledo, Ohio
Median list price: $199,900
Median household income: $63,133
About 60 miles from Detroit, Toledo has an outstanding art scene that is covered by the Toledo Museum of Art.
Battle Creek, Michigan
Median list price: $224,950
Median household income: $59,424
Battle Creek, located about two hours from Detroit and three hours from Chicago, was recently ranked as the fifth best city in the US for veterans to live in, according to Realtor.com.
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
View of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, skyline. (Getty Images)
Median list price: $245,000
Median household income: $72,935
Located in western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is home to major professional sports teams – the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates – and has a strong reputation.
Cleveland, Ohio
Median list price: $250,000
Median household income: $68,695
Along the south shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland offers lakeside parks, as well as a thriving arts and crafts community.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Median list price: $260,000
Median household income: $63,615
About 100 miles from New York City and Philadelphia, Scranton features breweries, historic theaters and is featured as the hometown of the fictional company Dunder Mifflin from the television show “The Office”.
Buffalo/Cheektowaga, New York
Median list price: $259,900
Median household income: $71,055
Founded in 1832, Buffalo is two hours from Toronto and is home to more than a dozen Frank Lloyd Wright designs, according to Buffalo’s website.
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Wichita, Kansas
A photo of a landscape in Wichita, Kansas during springtime. (Getty Images)
Median list price: $285,000
Median household income: $70,286
Wichita has an outstanding food scene, including artisan producers and Kansas BBQ, as well as an outstanding local theater and music community.
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Frankfort, Kentucky
Median list price: $285,000
Median household income: $71,983
Located along the Kentucky River and within an hour of both Louisville and Lexington, Frankfort is surrounded by rolling hills and trails.
Louis, Missouri
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. (Tom Gannam/Reuters)
Median list price: $291,990
Median household income: $79,869
St. Louis offers a growing startup community, hiking trails, a thriving craft beer scene and is home to the iconic Gateway Arch.
