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Buying a home right now feels almost impossible. The average home price in the United States is a jaw-dropping $420,800. Don’t let this number scare you. There are still plenty of homes for sale under $100,000. The question is, where?
We curated this list of these places by carefully choosing cities with at least 100 home listings under $100,000 on Zillow. The cities are also home to populations of at least 5,000. To mix up this list, we chose both small and large cities.
Here are 18 all-American cities where you can buy a house for under $100,000.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, isn’t the most popular city to live in, but it should be on your radar if your budget for a home is under $100,000. As of June 2024, Zillow lists 204 active homes below $100k. You can even find listings for under $50,000.
Kansas City is one of the largest cities in Missouri. The city has a population of around 500,000. This hidden gem is filled with plenty to do. Buying a house here means you’ll have access to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
Cleveland, Ohio
While Cleveland, Ohio, is a major city, it’s almost always forgotten. Like Kansas City, I consider Cleveland a hidden, affordable gem.
On Zillow, Cleveland boasts over 300 active listings capped at $100,000. In total, there are 777 listings in Cleveland. You don’t need much to survive in Cleveland. The city’s median income is $37,351.
Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia, is one of the most affordable cities in the U.S. Nearly 70,000 people call Albany home, and cheap homes are not hard to find. The median housing price in Albany as of June 2024 is $127,456.
Don’t let that number fool you. There are plenty of homes under $100k in Albany. Zillow lists at least 250 houses, condos, and townhomes.
Erie, Pennsylvania
There are many spots in Pennsylvania filled with affordable homes. A city where you can easily buy a house for less than $100,000 is Erie. In Erie, residents have a lot of buying power.
The median housing price is $177,374. Still, there are at least 100 active listings on Zillow for under $100,000.
Jackson, Mississippi
You don’t have to live in a small town to afford a house. In Jackson, Mississippi, plenty of homes are priced under $100k. Jackson is home to around 150,000 people.
So, how many homes are listed under $100,000 in Jackson? Zillow lists 183 homes. About a third of all homes in Jackson cost less than $100,000.
Wichita, Kansas
Kansas is a hidden gem. It’s an underrated state with plenty of cheap housing and cities to choose from. Wichita is one of the best places to buy a house for less than $100,000.
Wichita is a big city. Its population is nearly 400,000. On Zillow, Witchita boasts about 140 active listings under $100k.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is a major city in Oklahoma. There is plenty to do there, including the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Oklahoma City Zoo.
This state capital has a population of 681,054. While the median housing price is $205,291, Zillow lists over 150 options under $100k.
Decatur, Illinois
Have you ever heard of Decatur, Illinois? This Illinois best-hidden secret is affordable, unique, and charming. Residents enjoy the Scovill Zoo and Rock Springs Conservation Area.
When most people think of Illinois, they picture Chicago. However, Illinois is home to more cities than just Chicago. As of June 2024, Decatur has 100 homes priced under $100k.
Columbia, South Carolina
So many people have moved to South Carolina in the last few years. It’s hard to imagine there are any affordable cities left. Still, Columbia, South Carolina, has plenty of homes left for under $100k.
Columbia, South Carolina, is the capital of South Carolina. Its population is around 140,000. On Zillow, Columbia, South Carolina, boasts 150 homes for under $100k.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana, is also on our list. On Zillow, Fort Wayne has over 800 open listings of any price. About 200 of these listings are priced under $100k.
The median home price in Fort Wayne is $231,155. Nearly 270,000 people live in Fort Wayne.
Birmingham, Alabama
Alabama has seen a lot of growth. I can’t even begin to count how many people have moved to Alabama in my personal life. This growth makes sense when looking at housing costs.
Birmingham’s median housing price is $132,847. Since this is the median home price, you can only imagine just how low home prices go. Zillow lists 330 active homes under $100k.
Independence, Kansas
Another Kansas city on our list is Independence. This small city has only 8,500 people., and its quaintness is part of its charm.
The median home price in Independence is $100,766. Nearly all homes listed on Zillow in Independence are under $100k. Some homes, though, reach as high as $850,000.
Reading, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania really has no shortage of beautiful cities with affordable housing costs. Reading is no exception. Around 100,000 people call this southern Pennsylvania city home.
Buying a home in Reading doesn’t take much. On Zillow, there are at least 20 listings under $100k. This isn’t as much as other American cities, but it is worth a second look.
Buffalo, New York
The state of New York gets a bad rep. Not all of New York is expensive. You don’t have to be a millionaire to afford your own place.
Buffalo is underrated. The city is home to a little over 275,000 people. Zillow lists 161 results under $100,000.
Memphis Tennessee
Like most southern states, thousands of people have moved to Tennessee in a short time. Despite this, there are still affordable homes in Memphis.
Zillow lists over 500 options under $100,000 in Memphis. For as little as $4,500, you can buy a plot of land to build on.
Meridian, Idaho
It might be deceiving to list Meridian, Idaho, as an affordable all-American city to buy a house in. Meridian isn’t that big. However, it’s right outside of Boise. Meridian and its surrounding cities offer plenty of affordable homes.
Around Meridian, there are about 100 listings for under $100k. While Meridian isn’t a huge city, it’s home to about 115,000 residents, making it the second-most populous city in the state.
Pontiac, Michigan, is next on our list of all-American cities where you can buy a house for less than $100k. Pontiac doesn’t boast a lot of listings. On Zillow, the city only has about 100 listings of all prices.
Still, about 40 of these listings are under $100,000. If you want to save more money, you could buy a plot of land for cheap and live in an RV or tiny home.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky, is the largest city in the state. It is rich in history and offers residents a lot to do and see. You also don’t need a lot of cash to buy a home.
Currently, Zillow lists about 90 homes under $100,000. Some are as cheap as $35,000. Many of the cheaper homes in Louisville need some TLC.
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