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15 Cities You Won’t Be Able To Afford in 5 Years

Within the next 5 years, these cities may be too expensive for today's average home buyer.

By Sandy Baker , Edited by Amanda Machado

Updated Oct. 20, 2026

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Homes seem to be becoming more expensive to purchase and own over time, considering factors like increasing home values and interest rates.

If you're thinking about retiring in a few years, and you don't want to need help paying for your mortgage in retirement, you may want to reconsider buying a home in these areas.

Based on Redfin housing trend data, the cost of buying a home in the following cities is likely to continue increasing significantly in the next five years.

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Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, MA, isn't necessarily the most expensive place to buy a home, with a median sale price of $455,500 in June 2024.

However, the very competitive real estate market here has grown 7.8% year-over-year in a challenging market climate. The median sale price per square foot has also increased to $265.

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Buffalo, New York

The median sold price of a home here was just $195,312 in June 2024, which is very affordable overall (especially when you consider NYC rates).

In fact, home prices are down about 2.6% compared to last year.

Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin may not be the first place you think of when it comes to high home values, but they've risen over 8.1% from June of 2023 to 2024.

The median sale price of a home in this city was $440,000, and the median sale price per square foot stood at $241.

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Bakersfield, California

In June of 2024, the median price for a home in Bakersfield was $411,900. That's up about 3.2% from the previous year, making it a competitive market overall.

Homes often swell within 31 days, and over 365 homes were sold in the city in June alone.

Providence, Rhode Island

With home prices up about 24% in June 2024, the Providence real estate market is another very competitive area.

Homes spend less than 15 days on the market, yet, with a median sale price of $540,000 and a price per square foot of $254, this is an area that's likely to see home prices grow to new heights.

Columbus, Ohio

A Midwest town with lots to offer, Columbus is another hidden city with fast-growing home prices.

In fact, most homes in Columbus received an average of four offers and had a median sale price of $291,000 in June 2024. Over 956 homes were sold in June this year, down from 1,046 last year.

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Roswell, Georgia

The housing market in Roswell is highly competitive, even though it tends to feel like a small city.

Still, with home prices up 6.4% in June of 2024 over the previous year, it's hard not to see this area becoming highly expensive within a few years.

The median sale price of a home here is $665,000, which is already one of the most expensive regions in the US.

Charlotte, North Carolina

In June 2024, the median price for a home in Charlotte was $445,000. That month, more than 1,021 homes were sold in the area, a decrease of about 200 homes over the previous year.

The Charlotte housing market is very competitive, with home prices up about 4.7% in 2024 over the previous year.

Atlanta, Georgia

In Atlanta, home prices are also on the rise, reaching a median sale price of $434,730 in June 2024.

That's about a 4.8% increase from June 2023. The median sale price per square foot is also competitively high at $304.

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Orlando, Florida

Orlando is known for everything from theme parks to hot summers, but it's also seeing a lot of demand in the real estate market. The median sale price of a home in June of 2024 was $409,000.

The price per square foot, $252, is about 3.3% higher than the previous year.

Prescott, Arizona

It seems everyone wants to move to Prescott, where the median sale price of a home hit $649,00 in June of 2024.

This is that this is a 7.3% increase from the previous year, and the median sale price per square foot is huge at $328, which is up 8.6% from last year.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The median sale price of a home in June 2024 in Philadelphia was $280,000. With 1,289 homes selling in June alone, with a median price per square foot of $214, home prices here are growing quickly.

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Folsom, California

Folsom, a community part of the Sacramento Metro area, is also a highly competitive place to live, with the median sale price of homes reaching $725,000 in June of 2024.

The average price in this city is about $377 per square foot, and over 74 homes were sold in this small community in the month of June alone.

Las Vegas, Nevada

The median sale price for a home in Las Vegas was $450,000 in June of 2024. That's about 7.2% higher than the previous year.

The market saw an impressive 875 homes sold in June, indicating the very high demand.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Another competitive market is Knoxville, where home prices increased by about 4.7% from June 2023 to 2024, with 246 homes sold in June this year.

The median sale price in this area is still $334,800 lower than in many other places, but that could change over time.

Bottom line

If you're hoping to keep costs as low as possible, you may want to rent to avoid costly home repairs and increasing interest rates.

Yet, with a few smart homeowner moves, you can still find competitively priced real estate markets throughout the US, especially if you're willing to look beyond the large and in-demand city.

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Sandy Baker

Sandy Baker has contributed more than 145 articles to FinanceBuzz and has over 17 years of experience in the financial sector. She focuses on smart money management, helping readers make better everyday financial decisions that quietly shape their budget. From the best SUVs under $40,000 to affordable lake towns and communities where the cost of living works in your favor, she'll help you understand where your money is going (and if it's worth it).