Know where housing is affordable, and where the cheap price hides risk.

As of the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2019-2023), the national median home value is approximately $281,900. County values vary dramatically, from under $75,000 in some rural counties to over $1,000,000 in affluent urban and coastal areas.

Counties with the lowest median home values are typically found in rural areas of the Midwest, South, and Appalachia. Many counties in West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have median home values below $100,000, making them some of the most affordable places to buy a home in America.

The most expensive counties are concentrated in California (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin), New York (Manhattan, Kings), Hawaii (Honolulu, Maui), and Colorado (Pitkin, Eagle). These counties often have median home values exceeding $800,000.

Housing experts generally recommend that median home values should not exceed 3-4 times the median household income in an area. Ratios above 5 are considered severely unaffordable. Many coastal counties have ratios of 8-10+, while rural Midwest counties often have ratios of 2-3.

Effective property tax rates vary significantly by county, from under 0.3% in some Hawaii and Louisiana parishes to over 2.5% in parts of New Jersey, Illinois, and New Hampshire. You can find detailed property tax data for every county at TaxByCounty.com.

The national median gross rent is approximately $1,163 per month. Rent varies widely, from under $600 in some rural counties to over $2,500 in major metropolitan counties like San Francisco, New York, and Boston.

Yes. The data on HomesByCounty comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), which is the most comprehensive source of demographic and housing data in the United States. The 5-year estimates represent the most reliable county-level data available.