According to the National Association of Realtors' 2017 report , there are a multitude of metropolises where you don't have to earn six figures to qualify for a mortgage. In fact, a household income of under $35,000 can still get you a single family home in more places than big-market media would lead you to believe. We've combed through the data to select five of the finest mid-sized cities where the typical home is affordable on an income of less than $35,000 and 20% down.
"},"entry":[{"wyse_rank":"Wyse-Honorable Mention","title":{"text":"Youngstown, OH"},"ranking_text":{"html":"If the 2000's was the decade of the big cities, the 2010's is the decade of the medium-sized metro. The Youngstown region - home to the cities of Warren & Boardman in addition to the town made famous by Bruce Springsteen - is one of those places where you can Uber home from a your local microbrewery while paying a mortgage that's less than most big-city condo fees.
East Ohio isn't the only place where the average home costs less than a decked-out Range Rover. Toledo is a decent-sized town located a few miles from Michigan and Indiana. It's also one of the only places where you can get a home on a $35k income, and still have access to cultural institutions like the Toledo Symphony, Opera or the theatre - not to mention the leftover funds in your wallet to take advantage of them.
Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. That means architectural marvels, industrial know-how and home prices that represent the best the heartland has to offer. There's no place like home when your mortgage payemnt is cheapter than a pair of ruby slippers.
Here's another city where you barely have to crack a $25k income to qualify for a typical single-family home . Springfield has a metro population of half a million, over a hundred parks, a zoo and three golf courses, but that doesn't mean you have to work for a Fortune 500 company to own a home. There are enough employers - including healthcare, education, sporting goods and automotive - to provide opportunities for many to live the American dream in a beautiful and welcoming region.
The top spot in our Wyse Awards for affordable cities on incomes of less than $35k goes to Louisville Kentucky. Where else can you buy a home within driving distance of the Derby, a dynamic downtown full of mom & pop businesses, and a thriving arts scene, all at an achievable income?