The Family Earnings a Household Wants To Purchase a Dwelling in 50 Main Cities in 2024

Housing prices have soared over the past few years, with average incomes struggling to keep up. According to Zillow, homebuyers need $47,000 more to buy a home than they did in 2020 — a large jump without a substantial change in income.

Even dual-income households still find it difficult to purchase a home in choice locations, with the average salary in the U.S. at $61,220.

However, household income is not the only metric to consider while buying a home. Current savings, investments, expenses, debt, long-term financial plans, external support and what kind of home you’d like to purchase are other important factors to consider, depending on your family needs.

GOBankingRates analyzed the top 200 major cities in the U.S., looking at their population totals, the median incomes and the average household values in each city. From this data, the household income a family needs to buy a home in 2024 varies greatly across the U.S. Here is the household income a family needs to purchase a home in 50 major cities in the U.S.

Arlington, Texas

• Population total: 393,469

• Median income: $71,736

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $324,247

• Household 10% down payment: $32,424.70

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,940

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,784

• Monthly total cost: $4,724

• Salary needed: $113,373

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Wichita, Kansas

• Population total: 395,951

• Median income: $60,712

• Livability: 68

• Household average value: $197,243

• Household 10% down payment: $19,724.30

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,180

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,868

• Monthly total cost: $4,048

• Salary needed: $97,147

Bakersfield, California

• Population total: 404,321

• Median income: $73,827

• Livability: 57

• Household average value: $386,811

• Household 10% down payment: $38,681.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,314

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,822

• Monthly total cost: $5,136

• Salary needed: $123,257

Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Population total: 411,938

• Median income: $56,648

• Livability: 75

• Household average value: $209,581

• Household 10% down payment: $20,958.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,254

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,688

• Monthly total cost: $3,941

• Salary needed: $94,593

Minneapolis

• Population total: 426,877

• Median income: $76,332

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $342,444

• Household 10% down payment: $34,244.40

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,048

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,964

• Monthly total cost: $5,013

• Salary needed: $120,301

Oakland, California

• Population total: 437,825

• Median income: $94,389

• Livability: 71

• Household average value: $890,225

• Household 10% down payment: $89,022.50

• Monthly mortgage cost: $5,325

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,441

• Monthly total cost: $8,766

• Salary needed: $210,375

Story continues

Miami

• Population total: 443,665

• Median income: $54,858

• Livability: 81

• Household average value: $635,356

• Household 10% down payment: $63,535.60

• Monthly mortgage cost: $3,800

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,803

• Monthly total cost: $6,603

• Salary needed: $158,477

Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Population total: 457,900

• Median income: $87,544

• Livability: 83

• Household average value: $414,686

• Household 10% down payment: $41,468.60

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,481

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,092

• Monthly total cost: $5,573

• Salary needed: $133,747

Long Beach, California

• Population total: 462,293

• Median income: $78,995

• Livability: 69

• Household average value: $916,271

• Household 10% down payment: $91,627.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $5,481

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,983

• Monthly total cost: $8,464

• Salary needed: $203,137

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Population total: 465,517

• Median income: $78,631

• Livability: 84

• Household average value: $452,411

• Household 10% down payment: $45,241.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,706

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,784

• Monthly total cost: $5,490

• Salary needed: $131,753

Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Population total: 479,612

• Median income: $79,026

• Livability: 79

• Household average value: $466,279

• Household 10% down payment: $46,627.90

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,789

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,854

• Monthly total cost: $5,643

• Salary needed: $135,435

Omaha, Nebraska

• Population total: 489,201

• Median income: $70,202

• Livability: 83

• Household average value: $283,135

• Household 10% down payment: $28,313.50

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,694

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,046

• Monthly total cost: $4,740

• Salary needed: $113,750

Atlanta

• Population total: 494,838

• Median income: $77,655

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $452,015

• Household 10% down payment: $45,201.50

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,704

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,773

• Monthly total cost: $5,477

• Salary needed: $131,447

Mesa, Arizona

• Population total: 503,390

• Median income: $73,766

• Livability: 81

• Household average value: $452,888

• Household 10% down payment: $45,288.80

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,709

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,722

• Monthly total cost: $5,431

• Salary needed: $130,349

Kansas City, Missouri

• Population total: 505,958

• Median income: $65,256

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $243,648

• Household 10% down payment: $24,364.80

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,457

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,653

• Monthly total cost: $4,110

• Salary needed: $98,651

Sacramento, California

• Population total: 523,600

• Median income: $78,954

• Livability: 73

• Household average value: $491,908

• Household 10% down payment: $49,190.80

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,942

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,044

• Monthly total cost: $5,986

• Salary needed: $143,673

Tucson, Arizona

• Population total: 541,033

• Median income: $52,049

• Livability: 73

• Household average value: $341,273

• Household 10% down payment: $34,127.30

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,041

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,591

• Monthly total cost: $4,633

• Salary needed: $111,186

Fresno, California

• Population total: 541,528

• Median income: $63,001

• Livability: 63

• Household average value: $391,610

• Household 10% down payment: $39,161

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,342

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,832

• Monthly total cost: $5,174

• Salary needed: $124,176

Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Population total: 562,551

• Median income: $61,503

• Livability: 72

• Household average value: $335,832

• Household 10% down payment: $33,583.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,009

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,588

• Monthly total cost: $4,597

• Salary needed: $110,336

Milwaukee

• Population total: 573,299

• Median income: $49,733

• Livability: 79

• Household average value: $205,132

• Household 10% down payment: $20,513.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,227

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,798

• Monthly total cost: $4,025

• Salary needed: $96,602

Baltimore

• Population total: 584,548

• Median income: $58,349

• Livability: 77

• Household average value: $186,037

• Household 10% down payment: $18,603.70

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,113

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,714

• Monthly total cost: $3,827

• Salary needed: $91,846

Louisville, Kentucky

• Population total: 629,176

• Median income: $63,114

• Livability: 66

• Household average value: $246,451

• Household 10% down payment: $24,645.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,474

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,551

• Monthly total cost: $4,025

• Salary needed: $96,608

Memphis, Tennessee

• Population total: 630,027

• Median income: $48,090

• Livability: 70

• Household average value: $149,486

• Household 10% down payment: $14,948.60

• Monthly mortgage cost: $894

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,633

• Monthly total cost: $3,528

• Salary needed: $84,661

Detroit

• Population total: 636,787

• Median income: $37,761

• Livability: 73

• Household average value: $72,292

• Household 10% down payment: $7,229.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $432

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,599

• Monthly total cost: $3,031

• Salary needed: $72,744

Las Vegas

• Population total: 644,835

• Median income: $66,356

• Livability: 82

• Household average value: $441,334

• Household 10% down payment: $44,133.40

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,640

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,806

• Monthly total cost: $5,446

• Salary needed: $130,708

Portland, Oregon

• Population total: 646,101

• Median income: $85,876

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $566,065

• Household 10% down payment: $56,606.50

• Monthly mortgage cost: $3,386

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,957

• Monthly total cost: $6,343

• Salary needed: $152,230

Boston

• Population total: 665,945

• Median income: $89,212

• Livability: 77

• Household average value: $803,072

• Household 10% down payment: $80,307.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $4,804

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,358

• Monthly total cost: $8,161

• Salary needed: $195,873

Washington, D.C.

• Population total: 670,587

• Median income: $101,722

• Livability: 75

• Household average value: $733,917

• Household 10% down payment: $73,391.70

• Monthly mortgage cost: $4,390

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,509

• Monthly total cost: $7,899

• Salary needed: $189,569

El Paso, Texas

• Population total: 677,181

• Median income: $55,710

• Livability: 81

• Household average value: $223,722

• Household 10% down payment: $22,372.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,338

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,485

• Monthly total cost: $3,823

• Salary needed: $91,752

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Population total: 681,088

• Median income: $64,251

• Livability: 81

• Household average value: $207,622

• Household 10% down payment: $20,762.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,242

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,690

• Monthly total cost: $3,932

• Salary needed: $94,359

Nashville, Tennessee

• Population total: 684,103

• Median income: $71,328

• Livability: 78

• Household average value: $453,841

• Household 10% down payment: $45,384.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,715

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,740

• Monthly total cost: $5,455

• Salary needed: $130,921

Denver

• Population total: 710,800

• Median income: $85,853

• Livability: 72

• Household average value: $625,555

• Household 10% down payment: $62,555.50

• Monthly mortgage cost: $3,742

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,084

• Monthly total cost: $6,826

• Salary needed: $163,826

Seattle

• Population total: 734,603

• Median income: $116,068

• Livability: 75

• Household average value: $974,599

• Household 10% down payment: $97,459.90

• Monthly mortgage cost: $5,830

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,039

• Monthly total cost: $8,869

• Salary needed: $212,847

San Francisco

• Population total: 851,036

• Median income: $136,689

• Livability: 75

• Household average value: $1,437,512

• Household 10% down payment: $143,751.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $8,599

• Monthly expenditure cost: $3,580

• Monthly total cost: $12,178

• Salary needed: $292,279

Charlotte, North Carolina

• Population total: 875,045

• Median income: $74,070

• Livability: 80

• Household average value: $409,432

• Household 10% down payment: $40,943.20

• Monthly mortgage cost: $2,449

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,773

• Monthly total cost: $5,222

• Salary needed: $125,328

Indianapolis

• Population total: 882,006

• Median income: $59,110

• Livability: 76

• Household average value: $232,511

• Household 10% down payment: $23,251.10

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,391

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,651

• Monthly total cost: $4,041

• Salary needed: $96,995

Columbus, Ohio

• Population total: 902,449

• Median income: $62,994

• Livability: 81

• Household average value: $262,926

• Household 10% down payment: $26,292.60

• Monthly mortgage cost: $1,573

• Monthly expenditure cost: $2,721

• Monthly total cost: $4,294

• Salary needed: $103,054

Fort Worth, Texas

• Population total: 924,663

• Median income: $72,726