Saving & Spending Home & Auto

11 Cities Where You Can Still Buy a House for Under $250,000

Bypass the housing market frenzy with these affordable alternatives.

couple holding new house keys outdoor
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

While the busy spring and summer real estate market may have increased median sale prices, there are plenty of U.S. cities where you can get a home for under $250,000.

If you want to get ahead financially by buying a home for less than $250K, maybe one of these cities is right for you.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Cleveland, Ohio

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe skylines of cleveland ohio with lakeview

Cleveland, a humble gem along the coast of Lake Erie, boasts excellent restaurants and museums. Visitors (and potential residents) should check out the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

According to the real estate website Redfin, the median sale price for a home in Cleveland was $125,000 in June 2024.

Pro tip: If you choose to visit any of these cities, consider booking your trip with a travel credit card to earn points and miles.

Columbus, Georgia

Jacob/Adobe Columbus Georgia

Columbus is a city of over 200,000 located on the Alabama border. Like many housing markets, it has seen a slow and steady increase over the last several years.

According to Redfin, the median home price in the river city reached $235,000 in June, an increase of 11.7% from the same time a year earlier.

Birmingham, Alabama

Kevin Ruck/Adobe birmingham alabama skyline

The historic city of Birmingham has also seen a decrease in home prices, with the median sale price dropping 1.6% since the same time last year.

Buyers can expect to pay around $211,000, which is the median sale price according to Redfin as of Jun 2024. 

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Detroit, Michigan

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe skyscape of detroit michigan at midnight

Detroit can be a great hometown if you want to live near water or in a city on the upswing with plenty of new restaurants and cool nightlife.

The median home sale price in the city is well under $250,000 at $85,000 in June, which is easily affordable for some buyers. Prices, however, will be higher as you move to more popular neighborhoods in the city.

Because it’s a rebuilding city, know that you may have to consider rehabbing a home.

Rochester, New York

Roland/Adobe lake besides rochester skyline

Upstate New York is where you’ll find Rochester, which sits on the shore of Lake Ontario and is the home of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Rochester is also the headquarters for Xerox, Wegmans, and Paychex.

The average price of a home in Rochester was $162,900 in June. Rochester is a good option if you want to live in a less expensive area of New York State.

Baltimore, Maryland

Kevin Ruck/Adobe baltimore skyline

The home of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens is also home to affordable housing.

Redfin placed the median home sale price in Baltimore at $240,000 in June 2024, which is up 4.3% since the same time last year.

Memphis, Tennessee

Kevin Ruck/Adobe memphis tennessee skyline at sunrise

The home of Elvis Presley could also be the next place you call home. 

While you may not be able to buy Graceland, you could buy a home in Memphis for a median sale price of $190,000 in June. That represents a 7.3% decrease in price compared to a year earlier.

Springfield, Illinois

mandritoiu/Adobe A photo of Springfield, Illinois

Springfield, the state capital of Illinois, has experienced many ups and downs in the housing market over the last several years. 

Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find a decent two- to three-bedroom home for $183,000, a 4.3% jump from the previous year.

Des Moines, Iowa

pabrady63/Adobe beautiful iowa city skyline at sunset

Looking for a good Midwestern town to buy a house? Consider Des Moines.

The capital of Iowa had a median sale price of $216,500 in February, which is well under those looking within the $250,000 range.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Lubbock, Texas

Patricia E. Thomas/Adobe green park with benches and trees in lubbock town square

This small town in West Texas near the New Mexico border may seem like it's in the middle of nowhere, but it boasts easy access to an international airport and is home to Texas Tech University. 

The city's median sale price was $230,000 in June, a 5% drop from the same time a year earlier.

Wichita, Kansas

Jacob/Adobe population centre of wichita in kansas

Another great Midwest city to consider is Wichita, the largest city in Kansas.

You could find a home there for a median sale price of $225,800 in June, marking a 4.5% decrease compared to a year earlier.

Bottom line

tirachard/Adobe african american family happy while shifting

Finding the right mortgage lender is a crucial first step to securing your dream home.

A knowledgeable lender can guide you through the process, explain your options, and ensure you won't need help paying your mortgage every month.

This will put you in a strong position to move forward with confidence, knowing you have the financial security to manage your new homeownership journey.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.