Buying a home in the U.S. used to be a rite of passage to the American Dream, and something that most middle-class families could afford. Now, hopeful homebuyers are faced with major challenges, including sky-high mortgage interest rates and low inventory, which drives up home prices. In the first quarter of 2025, the median sales price of homes sold in in the U.S. was $416,900. In June 1970, the median sales price was $23,800, which would be about $197,000 in 2025.
Learn More: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years
Read Next: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
You can still get a house in the U.S. for $197,000 (or what would have been $23,800 in 1970). You just have to know where to look. GOBankingRates found the cities where you can buy a home for under $200,000 — and even below $150,000 — in 2025.
15. Erie, Pennsylvania
- 2025 median home price: $195,854
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,100
- Livability score: 82/100
Find Out: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
14. Akron, Ohio
- 2025 median home price: $195,246
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,075
- Livability score: 81/100
13. Toledo, Ohio
- 2025 median home price: $194,734
- 2025 average monthly rent: $999
- Livability score: 66/100
12. Binghamton, New York
- 2025 median home price: $194,025
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,425
- Livability score: 77/100
11. Huntington, West Virginia
- 2025 median home price: $191,467
- 2025 average monthly rent: $900
- Livability score: 81/100
10. Davenport, Iowa
- 2025 median home price: $178,367
- 2025 average monthly rent: $950
- Livability score: 77/100
9. Charleston, West Virginia
- 2025 median home price: $174,863
- 2025 average monthly rent: $928
- Livability score: 82/100
8. Terre Haute, Indiana
- 2025 median home price: $169,259
- 2025 average monthly rent: $875
- Livability score: 74/100
7. Macon, Georgia
- 2025 median home price: $163,700
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,100
- Livability score: 75/100
6. Springfield, Illinois
- 2025 median home price: $163,529
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,100
- Livability score: 81/100
4. Youngstown, Ohio
- 2025 median home price: $163,292
- 2025 average monthly rent: $950
- Livability score: 81/100
3. Saginaw, Michigan
- 2025 median home price: $162,267
- 2025 average monthly rent: $900
- Livability score: 62/100
2. Peoria, Illinois
- 2025 median home price: $141,521
- 2025 average monthly rent: $1,072
- Livability score: 73/100
1. Flint, Michigan
- 2025 median home price: $141,021
- 2025 average monthly rent: $895
- Livability score: 74/100
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates took Zillow’s April 2025 median list price data and found the 50 biggest (in terms of housing market size) metros that have a 2025 average median list price below $200,000. We sourced average monthly rent prices from Zillow and livability scores from AreaVibes. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 2, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
- 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025
- 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early
- 7 Wealth-Building Shortcuts Proven To Add $1K to Your Wallet This Month
- 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Where You Can Buy a Home for Under $200K in 2025
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
