Dustin Austein Realtor

Jessica Lautz, NAR's Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research, reacts to the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac falling to 6.85% from 6.87% last week.

The cost of staying alive — the home price-to-income ratio of each US state

Housing affordability remains a significant challenge in the US. This data underscores the growing divide between wages and home prices.

A 2024 analysis by Construction Coverage, using data from Zillow and the U.S. Census Bureau, found that the national average home price-to-income ratio is 4.7.

However, states like Hawaii (9.1) and California (8.4) far exceed this, making homeownership particularly difficult. Despite having some of the highest median incomes when adjusted for cost of living, these states also have the highest median home prices, making them the least affordable places to buy a home.

California’s affordability crisis is even more pronounced at the city level. The four large U.S. cities with the highest home price-to-income ratios are all in California, highlighting the extreme cost burden faced by residents.

As housing prices continue to rise, affordability remains a pressing issue, particularly in coastal states.

See a full-sized image: https://www.voronoiapp.com/real-estate/Hawaii-Has-The-Highest-Home-Price-to-Income-Ratio--2778